A powerful figure from Greek myth here depicted by Tyler Miles Lockett slaying two centaurs after they attempted to rape her. Atalanta was a devotee of Artemis and like the huntress herself sought a life of independence.
A powerhouse woman from myth with exceptional skills in pharmaka, Circe looms large in Homer’s Odyssey. This tale sets in motion a reception of Circe that endures even now. This painting by Waterhouse is superb: her power so clear.
This beauty is one of the absolute gems at Herculaneum! So much so that the findspot is named after the two figures: the House of Neptune & Amphitrite.
The gorgeous gradations of blues sets this piece apart 💙
Hesiod’s account of Pandora and her role in opening the pithos which contained all the evils that plague humanity sets the scene. Here Sebastian Becker captures the malign nature of the contents slowly drifting out of an opened box…
The famous god of healing is depicted here in Poynter’s 1880 painting ‘A Visit to Aesculapius’ as examining the injured Venus. She is accompanied by the Graces while the woman drawing water is thought to be Hygieia.
The painting is based on a poem by Thomas Watson and so we have layers of reception here as Watson used the Latin names of gods though the origin of these divinities is quite Greek!
This skeleton is determined to make the best of their situation. They are reclining to dine and there’s clearly plenty of wine and bread to add to the feast. The ancient Greek reads “ΕΥΦΡΟΣΥΝΟΣ”: “Be cheerful, enjoy your life”
A devastating myth of a father and son and the tragedy of loss. This painting ‘The Lament for Icarus’ by Herbert James Draper (1898) reimagines the grief at the heart of this myth.
Jason owed his heroic successes to Medea. In this moment from their story, Waterhouse reimagines the moment Medea uses her skill in pharmakia to aid Jason on the quests set by Aeëtes.
This scene of a wild hunt has been carefully restored to capture the vibrancy and beauty of the animals. Big cats chase a variety of animals evoking Egypt or further south into Africa.
Known famously as the tutor of Achilles, his wisdom set him apart from the other centaurs. I love the gorgeous artistry of @tylermlockett in bringing together this classic scene complete with astrological reference (a skill of Chiron’s).
Ahhh the Romans’ most fortunate day of the week. Here we offer dubious honour to Priapus, the god often most found holding a fruit basket. That’s no cornucopia!
Hubris, cursing by the gods, wolves, and city founding… the story of the King of Arcadia has it all. The key moral lesson: never underestimate the divine.
Asterion is both the name of Minos’ foster-father and the name sometimes given to the Minotaur. In this poignant portrait by George Frederic Watts (1885), Asterion looks out to beyond the labyrinth that is his prison.
CUTE alert! This depiction of a tiger chasing a goat (or perhaps another animal!) is rendered slightly less fearsome by the faces of both animals. The details of the tiger’s eye and apparent smile add an adorable element to this mosaic.