In Greek mythology, Sinis the Pine-Bender was a bandit killed by Theseus on his way to Athens. Sinis would bend two pine trees to the ground, tie his victim to the trees, and then let them go, which would tear the victim apart. Theseus killed Sinis by doing the same thing to him.

In Greek mythology, Hyacinth was a human prince and lover of the god Apollo. Zephyrus (the west wind) was jealous that Hyacinth chose Apollo over him, and so caused a discus to hit the prince, killing him. Apollo created the hyacinth flower from Hyacinth's blood.
Giovanni Battista Tiepolo

Janus was the most prominent Roman god who wasn't linked to a Greek god. He was the two-faced god of beginnings and endings, duality, and transition. Thus, he was a god of both war and peace, birth and death, and journeys in general. The month of January is named after him.

The most common auguries in ancient Rome were predicting the future through birds. Oscines (ravens, crows, owls, hens) gave auspices via their singing while alites (eagles, vultures) gave auspices via their flying. The black woodpecker was both an oscine and an alite.
Jacques Grasset de Saint Sauveur

Alexander the Great's famous warhorse Bucephalus was described as a huge black horse with a white star on his brow. According to legend, Bucephalus mated with mares all over Asia. Strangely, all foals birthed by Persian and Afghan mares had unicorn horns.

Greek theatre began as religious rituals for Dionysus; a masked figure adopted a persona to deliver a dramatic monologue. As the art form developed, other actors were added to the performances, and even secular topics were introduced. Masks remained important.

Lovely visit from Rosie Hewlett, and the sun came out to illuminate our funky cold Medea painted window too!

The paperback edition of Medea is out now from Penguin, sgned copies available!

The Birth of Venus by Marco Dente captures the essence of beauty and myth, blending classical themes with ensconced sensuality. How does this engraving redefine the ideals of femininity in the context of the Renaissance?

#RenaissanceArt #ClassicalMythology #ClevelandArt
https://clevelandart.org/art/1923.1101

In Greek mythology, Gaia the Earth birthed the monster Typhon to overthrow Zeus for imprisoning her Titan children. Typhon had 100 lava-spewing heads, and he almost destroyed the gods before Zeus trapped him under Mt. Etna. Typhon's struggles to escape are why Etna is a volcano.

Learning that Cassandra from the myth was a Trojan priestess and imaging her screaming to the others
"DO YOU NOT THINK IT ODD THEY LEFT A BIG WOODEN HORSE OUTSIDE?"

"The starry void shuddered and convulsed. And everything was cast out. Everything but me. Alone in the darkness. In [my brother's] eyes, I had seen something of my father. A hunger. I took a moment to clothe my form in flames. And I stepped out of the void... and into the world."
- George O'Connor, "Dionysos"
George O'Connor

"A herb most bruised is woman. We must pay
Our store of gold, hoarded for that one day,
To buy us some man's love; and lo, they bring
A master of our flesh! There comes the sting....
And then the jeopardy....
What shall that master be?"
- Euripides, "Medea"
Frederick Sandys

Hestia was the Greek goddess of the hearth and home. Though she had few temples dedicated to her specifically, Hestia was the goddess of the sacrificial fire in general, and so received a portion of every sacrifice given to any god. She also managed the hearth on Mt. Olympus.
Roy Trinh

In Greek myths, after the witch Medea was abandoned by her lover Jason, she took revenge by murdering Jason's new fiancée and two of Medea and Jason's own children. She then flew off in a chariot driven by flying serpents sent by Medea's grandfather, Helios the sun god.

In Greek mythology, the smith god Hephaestus built many metal automatons, including tripods with golden wheels, golden and silver lion and dog guardians, the bronze giant Talos, and even golden handmaidens who could think and feel (and who helped the crippled god to walk).

In Greek mythology, Zeus' first wife was Metis (goddess of wisdom); she helped Zeus overthrow his father Cronus. When a prophecy declared that Metis might produce a son to overthrow Zeus, he swallowed her. When Metis birthed their daughter Athena, Athena rose from Zeus' head.

In Greek mythology, the Aegis was a cloak of animal skin or a shield of great protective power that the god Zeus wore, and then later gave to his favourite child: Athena. Later, Athena adorned the Aegis with the severed head of Medusa to terrify her enemies.

Despite being the firstborn Olympian in Greek mythology, Hestia is the quietest and humblest of them. She is the goddess of the hearth and home, tending the fireplace while others adventure. Hestia gave her throne to the young god Dionysus because there wasn't space for a new throne.