A Depiction of Paris in Luxor Temple and the “eidolon” of Helen

In the Ramesside court of Luxor Temple is a small depiction of a statue of Paris, placed intentionally opposite a statue of Nefertari, part of a colossus of Ramesses II. The image of Paris represents the only non-literary evidence for the Greek tradition of Helen being in Egypt during the Trojan War and suggests that Graeco-Roman tourists were aware of this alternate version of events. A consideration of this graffito within an art historical context suggests that it might relate to Euphranor’s lost statue of Paris

Ancient history · Archaeology · Art · Art history · Colossus computer · Context (archaeology) · Depiction · Literature · Statue · Temple · Trojan · Ancient Egypt and Archaeology · Classical Antiquity Studies · Historical, Religious, and Philosophical Studies · History