Title: Myths and Arts Perseus, Medusa and Andromeda
1Myths and ArtsPerseus, Medusa and Andromeda
Department of Comparative Religion University of
Helsinki
2Danae and Zeus
- Acrisius asked the oracle at Delphi, "when will I
have a son?" The oracle didn't exactly answer
that question, but instead responded, "don't let
your daughter get married, for she will have a
son, and that son will kill you." - Acrisius consequently confined his daughter,
Danae, inside a bronze underground chamber, but
to no avail. - Zeus had already been attracted to Danae, and
slipped into the chamber (and Danae's lap) in the
form of a golden shower. - This Attic red-figure crater (c480 BCE) depicts
the golden shower, and situates Danae in a rather
nicely decorated Athenian bedroom, with elaborate
bedding and a mirror hanging on the wall.
3Moralist interpretation by Titian
- Like this painting of Danae by Titian (1554),
commissioned by Philip II of Spain. - The art historians John Paoletti and Gary Radke
conclude, "Given the old woman's avaricious
collection of some of the gold in the form of
actual coins, and Danae's receptivity to
Jupiter's advances expressed by her parted legs
and dreamy expression, the story's associations
with prostitution are clear."
4Danae by Gustav Klimt, 1918
5Danae and Perseus
- A krater (mixing bowl), Attic, red-figure, found
in Syracuse (on Sicily), 460-450 BCE, that shows
Perseus and Danae together in the chest that
Acrisius threw into the sea.
6Medusa
- Later when Perseus was grown, King Polydektes,
command he bring back the head of Medousa. - With the help of the gods, Perseus first obtained
an invisible helm, magical sword, and winged
sandals. - He then stole the single eye of the Graiai, three
ancient hags, who told him where to find the
Gorgones.
7Perseus receiving his equipment
- A hydria (vase for water), made in Chalcidia and
found in the Etruscan city of Cerveteri,
black-figure, ca.520 BCE. It shows Perseus
receiving his equipment (sack, helmet of
invisibility, winged sandals) from the sea
nymphs. Behind him stands Athena.
8Edward Burne-Jones - The Call of Perseus
9Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones Perseus and the Sea
Nymph
10Perseus persuing a Gorgon
- Attic red-figure vase, of Panathenaic type, found
in Etruria (Vulci), ca490 BCE, it shows either
Perseus persuing a Gorgon, or a Gorgon persuing
Perseus. Note Perseus' hat, sandals, sack, and
curved sickle.
11Artist Edward Burne-Jones Title The Death of
Medusa I
12'Perseus and the Gorgon' Myth Pack CD-ROM
13Perseus with a sword to Medusa's throat
- An Attic black-figure vase (Vulci), ca550 BCE,
showing Perseus with a sword to Medusa's throat.
On the other side of Medusa stands Hermes.
14Perseus in the act of cutting off Medusa's head
- A limestone metope from a temple at Selinas (on
Sicily), 530-510 BCE, it shows Perseus in the act
of cutting off Medusa's head. Athena stands to
Perseus' right, and Medusa holds Pegasus in her
lap
15Perseus has cut off Medusa's head
- Attic red-figure vase, found at Capua in central
Italy, ca460 BCE. Perseus has cut off Medusa's
head and stuck it in his sack, and he gazes down
at the stump of her neck as he prepares to fly
away. Athena rushes in behind Medusa.
16MEDOUSA THE BIRTH OF PEGASOS
- The winged horse Pegasos bursts forth in birth,
from the decapitated neck of the Gorgon Medousa.
The hero Perseus wings away with her head tucked
inside his kibisis sack
17Cellini's Perseus
18(No Transcript)
19Medusa - Athena
- Fragment of a statue of Athena from the west
pediment of the temple of Apollo at Eretria on
the island of Euboea, ca510 BCE. It shows the
final placement of Medusa's head on the
breastplate (or shield) of Athena--who uses it to
terrify her enemies in battle.
20Medusa by Caravaggio
21Arnold Böcklin
22Boris Vallejo
23Medusa vs... Spider man!
24Halloween medusa
25??? Medusa
26Electric Medusa 2006
27Perseus by Antonio Canova
28Perseus
29Perseus and Andromeda
- A Roman wall painting from Pompeii (Casa del
Sacerdos Amandus, 3rd style) ca30 CE. Andromeda
is chained to the rock, and Perseus 1) negotiates
in the right background with Cepheus to marry
Andromeda, and 2) swoops in at left with Medusa's
head to fight the sea monster.
30- An Apulian loutrophoros (a large pot for carrying
water), red-figure, ca350-340. - In the upper register, you see Andromeda chained
to the rock, with Phineus to the right and
Cassiopeia and also (apparently) in the upper
right corner. - In the bottom register, Perseus fights the sea
monster.
311679 Pierre Mignard
32"Perseus and Andromeda" by JoachimWtewael, 1611,
Musée du Louvre, Paris
33Perseus and Andromeda, 1602, Guiseppe Cesari
34Titian Andromeda
35Perseus freed Andromeda Piero di Cosimo
36Perseus and Andromeda by Rubens 1620
37AndromedaGustave Doré
38Andromeda1929 Daniel Chester French (1850 - 1931)
39Artist Edward Burne-Jones Title The Doom
Fulfilled 1876
40Andromeda by Tamara de Lempicka
41Andromeda by Boris
42Digital "dark" Andromeda
43Male (!) Andromeda in Japanese manga and
cartoons (Saint Seiya)
44Artist Edward Burne-Jones Title St. George and
the Dragon 1868
45Beckmann, MaxPerseus1940-1941
46Perseus And Andromeda - A Role Inversion!
47End of the story
- Perseus slew the monster, and rescued the girl,
bringing her back to Greece as his bride. - On Seriphos, he turned King Polydektes to stone,
then travelled to his grandfather's kingdom to
claim the throne. - The old man fled, and was later accidentally
killed by Perseus at some Games with an awry
discus throw. - Perseus was the ancestor through his sons and
daughter of the royal houses of Mykenai, Elis,
Sparta, Messenia, and distant Persia. His most
famous descendant of all was Herakles
48Clash of the Titans - Medusa
- http//www.youtube.com/watch?vzBtAO4dYL98
49Clash of the Titans - Tribute
- http//www.youtube.com/watch?vZ3uFrtwQpbYfeature
related
50(No Transcript)
51Perseus yacht
52Swedish theater company Theater Barbara
performs "Perseus" using dance, mime and
acrobatics.