The crook and apple show that the sculpture represents Paris. In Greek mythology, he was a prince of Troy, but grew up as a shepherd. The three goddesses Athena, Hera and Aphrodite asked him to decide which of them was the most beautiful. The prize was a golden apple with the inscription To the fairest. Athena tried to bribe Paris with wisdom and Hera with power. However, Paris chose Aphrodite’s gift: love and marriage to the beautiful Helen.