Mythology

"Hermes and Argus" by Diego Velázquez, Hermes is depicted as a young figure holding a staff, playing music to lull Argus to sleep. Argus, the giant with 100 eyes, is shown lying on the ground, asleep. The nymph Io, who is transformed into a cow, is also present in the scene, often symbolized or represented in the background.

"Helius and Hephaestus" (1630) by Diego Velázquez shows the Greek gods Helius, the sun god, and Hephaestus, the god of fire and blacksmithing. Helius watches over the world while Hephaestus forges weapons. The painting highlights their divine powers with light and fire.

"The Death of Semele" by Peter Paul Rubens shows the tragic moment when Semele, a mortal woman loved by Zeus, is consumed by his divine power. Hera tricked her into asking Zeus to reveal his true form, causing her death. In the painting, Semele collapses in flames, while Zeus appears in his full glory.

"The Wedding of Peleus and Thetis" by Jordaens (1645) shows the wedding of the mortal king Peleus and the sea goddess Thetis. Their marriage was important because it led to the birth of Achilles, a key figure in the Trojan War. The painting features gods and goddesses celebrating the event, with Zeus and others surrounding the couple, filled with joy and festivity.

"The Birth of Venus" by Sandro Botticelli depicts the goddess Venus emerging from the sea, born from ocean foam. She stands on a seashell, with the wind god Zephyrus pushing her toward the shore, and Hora, the goddess of spring, ready to cover her. The painting symbolizes beauty, love, and purity, with soft lines and light colors creating a serene mood.

The fresco "Sacrifice of Iphigenia" from Pompeii shows the tragic moment when Agamemnon sacrifices his daughter Iphigenia to appease Artemis and ensure the Greek fleet can sail to Troy. The painting highlights the emotional and tragic nature of the scene.

The painting "Endymion and Selene" depicts the love story between the moon goddess Selene and the mortal Endymion. According to the myth, Selene falls in love with the beautiful young shepherd, and she visits him every night while he sleeps eternally. The artwork portrays their romantic and divine connection.

The painting illustrates the myth of Kronos swallowing his children to prevent them from taking his power, as he feared being overthrown by one of them. However, his wife Rhea saves their youngest child, Zeus, by secretly sending him to Crete. This act sets the stage for Zeus’s eventual return to defeat Kronos and fulfill his fate.

Velázquez’s The Weavers depicts the myth of Athene and Arachne from Ovid's Metamorphoses. In the story, Arachne, a mortal weaver, challenges the goddess Athene to a weaving contest. When Arachne’s tapestry proves superior, Athene, enraged, transforms her into a spider, condemning her to weave forever.

Rubens’ Hera and Argus (1610) portrays the myth from Ovid’s Metamorphoses. The painting illustrates Hera, who entrusts Argus, a giant with a hundred eyes, to guard her rival Io. After a long pursuit, Hermes is sent by Zeus to kill Argus, ultimately freeing Io from Hera's watchful gaze.

Van Heemskerck’s Hephaestus, Ares, and Aphrodite (1540) depicts the myth from Homer’s Odyssey. The painting shows the moment when Hephaestus, the god of blacksmiths, traps his wife Aphrodite with her lover Ares in a net, exposing their affair to the other gods.

The engraving Apollo Killing Koronis (16th century) illustrates the tragic moment from Ovid's Metamorphoses, where Apollo kills his lover Koronis after discovering her unfaithfulness. Despite his grief, Apollo later saves their unborn son, Asclepius, from her womb.

Nicolas Poussin's Discovery of Achilles on Skyros (1650) depicts the moment when the Greek hero Achilles is discovered disguised as a girl at the court of King Lycomedes. This event is drawn from the myth found in Fabulae by Hyginus, where Achilles' mother, Thetis, hides him to prevent his involvement in the Trojan War.

The Greek amphora from 540 BC depicts Ajax the Greater in the moments before he takes his own life. This scene is based on the tragedy Ajax by Sophocles (440 BC), where Ajax, devastated by being denied the armor of Achilles, believes he has been dishonored and in a fit of madness, kills himself.

The Apollo and Daphne statue by Bernini shows the moment from Ovid's Metamorphoses when Daphne turns into a laurel tree to escape Apollo. The sculpture captures Apollo reaching out while Daphne’s body transforms into bark and branches, showcasing incredible detail and emotion.

The painting Orestes and the Erinyes by Bouguereau portrays the myth from Hesiod's Theogony, where Cronus castrates his father Uranus, and the bloody drops that fall to Earth give birth to the Furies (Erinyes) and the Giants. The image focuses on Orestes, who is tormented by the Furies as punishment for matricide, highlighting the themes of vengeance and divine retribution from the myth.

The Judgment of Paris (1639) by Peter Paul Rubens depicts the myth where Paris, a Trojan prince, must choose the most beautiful goddess between Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite. He chooses Aphrodite, setting off the Trojan War.

The fresco The Mutilation of Ouranos by Kronos (c. 1560) by Giorgio Vasari and Cristofano Gherardi illustrates the myth where Kronos, urged by his mother Earth, castrates his father Ouranos with a sickle, fulfilling his destiny to overthrow him. This act symbolizes the violent beginning of a new reign in Greek mythology.

The painting Death of Aktaion by A. Brunelli, located in the Royal Garden of Caserta, depicts the moment when Aktaion is transformed into a stag by the goddess Artemis. After being spotted by Artemis while he accidentally saw her bathing, Aktaion is torn apart by his own hunting dogs. This scene is inspired by Ovid’s Metamorphoses.

The Roman mosaic from the 3rd century depicts Achilles dragging Hector's body behind his chariot for eleven days, as described in Homer’s Iliad. This moment occurs after Achilles kills Hector in battle, seeking revenge for the death of his friend Patroclus. It highlights Achilles' intense grief and desire for retribution against Hector, a key moment in the Trojan War.

James Barry’s painting Philoktetes on the Island of Lemnos (1770) depicts the Greek hero Philoktetes in his exile on the island of Lemnos, as described in Sophocles' Philoktetes. The painting shows Philoktetes in pain, suffering from a wound on his foot, and isolated from the other Greek soldiers during the Trojan War. This moment highlights the emotional and physical suffering of Philoktetes, who is abandoned by the Greeks but later becomes crucial to their victory.

The Rape of Persephone is a depiction of the myth from Ovid’s Metamorphoses and the Homeric Hymn to Demeter. It portrays the moment when Hades abducts Persephone to the underworld, an act that causes her mother, Demeter, to grieve deeply and neglect her duties, leading to the barren winter months. Persephone is often shown being taken by Hades while Demeter searches for her. This myth explains the changing seasons, symbolizing Persephone's dual role as the goddess of spring and the queen of the underworld.