Struck by a ricocheting discus, the young man’s blood is transformed into hyacinth flowers.
Metamorphoses
The story of how a young man inadvertently killed his pet stag, and was turned into a cypress for his grief – and that of others.
One of Ovid’s most painted stories, still popular, with some of the finest depictions by Poussin, Rubens, Corot, Watts, Scheffer, and others.
A girl is brought up as a boy. All goes well until they want to marry. Then the gods intervene. A very modern story from 2,000 years ago, with paintings.
Extensive bibliography, list of all articles, and thorough index of characters covered in this series looking at paintings of the myths in Ovid’s Metamorphoses.
Two transformations: Dryope changes into a Lotus Tree, and the incestuous Byblis becomes a spring.
How a maidservant brings a protracted labour to a successful conclusion, the origin of the Milky Way, and an infant who strangles serpents for fun.
How a centaur tried to abduct Hercules’ new bride, and the delayed revenge which led to the death of Hercules.
Ovid, through Achelous the river god, explains how the Horn of Plenty was wrenched from Achelous’ head in a fight with Hercules. With a gem of modern narrative painting too.
A maze of myths about shape-shifting, Neptune, and the sea leads to two wonderful but puzzling paintings.
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