Cassiopeia

View of the central left panel that depicts Cassiopeia, the wife of the king of Tyre, who has won a “beauty contest.”  She is depicted nude, left of center, with a crown above her head.

Just right of center there is  the head of a figure, with a staff in his hand This is the judge of the “beauty contest,” Aion, after whom the house is named.  Notice the “nimbus” (halo) surrounding his head—this feature would be used in Christian art to depict saints!  [Note for example Jesus, Mary, and John the Baptist on the “Deisis” in the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.

For the location of the House of Aion Click Here.

For a map and brief descriptive comments on Paphos Click Here.