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Menelaos
Material: shell.
Date and origin: France, ca 1820-1830.
Size: 2 1/8 x 1 5/8 inches
Condition: the figure is 100% Mint
This superb neoclassical cameo depicts the profile of Menelaos, King of Sparta.
It is masterly carved, a very expressive head with curled beard and helmet.
The helmet is adorned with an eagle and a man leaping on a Centaur.
In "The Judgement of Paris" the Trojan Prince Paris had to decide who of the three goddesses: Hera, Athena and Aphrodite was the fairest. Each of them tried to bribe him. Hera promised him power and riches, Athena promised him glory and wisdom and Aphrodite promised him the most beautiful woman on Earth for his wife.
Paris decided that Aphrodite was the fairest of the three goddesses.
For a cameo depicting "The Judgement of Paris", please see here.
The most beautiful woman on Earth was Helena, but unfortunately she was already married to Menelaos, King of Sparta.
Paris sailed to Greece and was hospitably received at Menelaos' court. When Menelaos was away for a couple of days for the funeral of a relative Paris used his absence to abduct Helena. The couple fled to Troja.
When Menelaos came back he was enraged by this insult and impudent violation of Greek hospitality. He persuaded the other Greek kings and noblemen to sail to Troja and seek revenge. Whence arose the famous Trojan war - masterly narrated in the Iliad by Homer.
Please compare this subject matter with the following scan (described as "Head of Menelaos", Italy, 19th century) taken from the book: "Western European Cameos" in the Hermitage Collection, author Ju. Kagan, Aurora Art Publishers, 1973 Leningrad.
Gabriele Thau for Pommeraie Antiques. All right reserved.
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