After Achilles slaughtered the rest of her family, Briseis becomes his enslaved concubine. While he’s angry, she remains devoted to him until his death.
narrative
From Hannibal crossing the Alps with his war elephants, through the temptation of St Anthony, to the circus and an imaginary India.
Cupid makes Pluto fall in love with Ceres’ young daughter Proserpine. When the king of Hades carries her off with him, there are consequences for the whole world.
Origin of the French tricolour, and Marianne, Norway making its way to independence, 4th July flag parades, and dressing overall at regattas.
Turner’s Ulysses Deriding Polyphemus, banners in Raphael’s and Tintoretto’s paintings of the Passion, and Friedrich’s Swedish flag.
The wedding of Perseus to Andromeda turns into a pitched battle, with many turned to stone by Medusa’s face. Then 9 daughters challenge the Muses to a contest.
Played for the Danse Macabre in the Middle Ages, a favourite of Hieronymus Bosch, and Joseph Stella in the early 20th century.
The double pipe with reeds played by Marsyas in his doomed contest with Apollo, blown by the Sirens, and more.
Perseus describes in his wedding speech how he beheaded Medusa, and how she came to have snakes in her hair.
Pan pipes, in paintings by Mikhail Vrubel, Poussin, JW Waterhouse, Franz von Stuck, Titian, and others.
The Eclectic Light Company 