Category: Mythology,
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01 Work, Contemporary Interpretations of Hellenic legends with footnotes #29. Luigi Bonazza; EUROPA
In Greek mythology Europa was the mother of King Minos of Crete, a woman with Phoenician origin of high lineage, and for whom the continent Europe was named. The story of her abduction by Zeus in the form of a white bull was a Cretan story; as classicist Károly Kerényi points out, “most of the love-stories concerning…
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Cecilio Plá y Gallardo; Brunilda and Wotan (The Valkyrie) 01 Paintings from Norse mythology, with footnotes – #3
In Norse mythology the Valkyries are ‘choosers of the slain,’ and they are the daughters of Wotan or Odin. Brunhilde who is Wotan’s favourite, defies Odin and was punished by imprisonment within a ring of fire until a brave hero falls in love and rescues her. More on Brunilda and Wotan Brunhild, also known as Brunhilda or Brynhild, is a powerful…
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Edward Dwurnik, Leda 01 Work, Contemporary Interpretations of Olympian deities, with footnotes #27
Leda, in Greek legend, usually believed to be the daughter of Thestius, king of Aetolia, and wife of Tyndareus, king of Lacedaemon. She was also believed to have been the mother (by Zeus, who had approached and seduced her in the form of a swan) of the other twin, Pollux, and of Helen, both of…
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William Oxer FRSA, Blest Pair Of Sirens 01 Work, Contemporary Interpretations of Olympian deities, with footnotes #25
According to Greek myths, sirens were powerful and erotic creatures, and many unsuspecting sailors would fall prey to their seductive beauty. The common belief was that they would devour sailors after their ships would crash into the rocks, as most men couldn’t resist the temptation of their sweet melodies and angelic faces. More on The Fisherman and…
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John Roddam Spencer Stanhope, ANDROMEDA 01 Painting, Olympian deities, by the Old Masters, with footnotes #41
Andromeda is the daughter of the Aethiopian king Cepheus and his wife Cassiopeia. When Cassiopeia’s hubris leads her to boast that Andromeda is more beautiful than the Nereids, Poseidon sends a sea monster, Cetus, to ravage Aethiopia as divine punishment. Andromeda is stripped and chained naked to a rock as a sacrifice to sate the monster,…
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Richard Ziegler; Judgment of Paris, 01 Work, Contemporary Interpretations of Olympian deities, with footnotes #24
The influence of the art of Italy and especially of the Renaissance can also be seen in this work. Thus, the frieze-like structure and the detailed representation of the vegetation to Paolo Uccello reminiscent, while Sandro Botticelli’s painting with the same subject Paris also on the right sitting on a stone with the golden apple…
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Peter Paul Rubens, The Calydonian boar hunt 01 Painting, Olympian deities, by the artists of their time, with footnotes #42
The Calydonian or Aetolian Boar is one of the monsters of Greek mythology that had to be overcome by heroes of the Olympian age. Sent by Artemis to ravage the region of Calydon in Aetolia because its king failed to honour her in his rites to the gods, it was killed in the Calydonian Hunt, in…
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Elizabeth Lennie, Tethys 01 Painting, Modern Interpretation of Olympian deities, with footnotes #41
In Greek mythology, Tethys was one of the Titan offspring of Uranus (Sky) and Gaia (Earth). Tethys played no active part in Greek mythology, the only early story concerning Tethys, is what Homer has Hera briefly relate in the Iliad’s Deception of Zeus passage. Hera says that, when Zeus was in the process of deposing Cronus, she was given…
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Follower of Pietro da Cortona; A Roman Carrying a Sabine Woman 01 Painting, Olympian deities, by the Old Masters, with footnotes #42
Rape of the Sabine Women is the common name of an incident from Roman mythology, in which the men of Rome committed a mass abduction of young women from the other cities in the region. It has been a frequent subject of artists, particularly during the Renaissance and post-Renaissance eras. Use of the word “rape” comes from…
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Anatolij Brusilovski, Europa? 01 Work, Contemporary Interpretations of Olympian deities, with footnotes #22
In Greek mythology Europa was the mother of King Minos of Crete, a woman with Phoenician origin of high lineage, and for whom the continent Europe was named. The story of her abduction by Zeus in the form of a white bull was a Cretan story; as classicist Károly Kerényi points out, “most of the…
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Ellie Hesse, AMAZON I 01 Painting, Olympian deities, with footnotes #40
‘There is something truly astounding about the way a horse can be transformed from a calm and seemingly domesticated creature, one moment, into an explosion of power and wired emotion, the next. I find this unpredictability and expressiveness, fascinating and a great inspiration in my work. Historical representations of the equine form are another major…
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02 carvings Of Olympian deities in classical Greek and Roman religion, Sculpture, #8
Leda, in Greek legend, usually believed to be the daughter of Thestius, king of Aetolia, and wife of Tyndareus, king of Lacedaemon. She was also believed to have been the mother (by Zeus, who had approached and seduced her in the form of a swan) of the other twin, Pollux, and of Helen, both of…
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Tiziano Vecellio, Danae 01 Painting, Olympian deities, by the Old Masters, with footnotes #39
Disappointed by his lack of male heirs, King Acrisius asked the oracle of Delphi if this would change. The oracle announced to him that he would never have a son, but his daughter would, and that he would be killed by his daughter’s son. At the time, Danae was childless and, meaning to keep her…
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Zena Holloway, Sea Selkie 01 Painting, and tales of Mermaids, with Footnotes, 10
In Scottish mythology, Selkies, meaning “Seal Folk” are mythological beings capable of therianthropy, changing from seal to human form by shedding their skin. They are found in folktales and mythology originating from Orkney and Shetland. The folk-tales frequently revolve around female selkies being coerced into relationships with humans by someone stealing and hiding their sealskin, thus…
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Giambattista Pittoni, The Sacrifice of Polyxenia 01 Painting, Olympian deities, by the Old Masters, with footnotes #40
Polyxena, in Greek mythology, a daughter of Priam, king of Troy, and his wife, Hecuba. After the fall of Troy, she was claimed by the ghost of Achilles, the greatest of the Greek warriors, as his share of the spoils and was therefore put to death at his tomb. In post-Classical times the story was…
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Giambattista Pittoni, King Candaules, 03 Paintings, Olympian deities, with footnotes #38
Jean-Léon Gérôme (11 May 1824 – 10 January 1904) was a French painter and sculptor in the style now known as Academicism. The range of his oeuvre included historical painting, Greek mythology, Orientalism, portraits and other subjects, bringing the Academic painting tradition to an artistic climax. He is considered one of the most important painters…
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Anna Razumovskaya, Three Graces 2 01 Work, Contemporary Interpretations of Olympian deities, with footnotes #21
In Greek mythology, a Charis or Grace is one of three or more minor goddesses of charm, beauty, nature, human creativity, and fertility, together known as the Charites or Graces. The usual list, from youngest to oldest is Aglaea (“Splendor”), Euphrosyne (“Mirth”), and Thalia (“Good Cheer”). In Roman mythology they were known as the Gratiae, the “Graces”.…
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Francesco Cairo, Hercules and Omphale 01 Painting, Olympian deities, by the Old Masters, with footnotes #37
Hercules and Omphale. Wishing to expiate the murder of one of his friends, Hercules consulted the oracle of Apollo, who advised him to enter the service of Omphale, Queen of Lydia. Although Hercules was the son of Zeus and was famed for his invincible strength, he submitted to the tasks the queen devised for him to…
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Italian master of the 17th century; THE ROYAL OF THE SABINERS 01 Painting, Olympian deities, by the Old Masters, with footnotes #36
In the center of the large-format picture, in the open air, two Romans in armor with spring-loaded helmet, holding in their hands a young woman who defends herself with arms raised against their abduction. On the left side of the picture the wide sea with a big sailboat. A young man with a helmet and…
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ITALIAN SCHOOL; THE THREE GRACES 01 Paintings, Olympian deities, by the Old Masters, with footnotes #37
In Greek mythology, a Charis or Grace is one of three or more minor goddesses of charm, beauty, nature, human creativity, and fertility, together known as the Charites or Graces. The usual list, from youngest to oldest is Aglaea (“Splendor”), Euphrosyne (“Mirth”), and Thalia (“Good Cheer”). In Roman mythology they were known as the Gratiae, the “Graces”.…
Zaidan Gallery 