Mosaic: Leda and the swan

Leda stands with her back to the viewer. She is in a garden, a fountain or birdbath to her left, to her right a swan turning its head to look back over its shoulder at Leda. Leda wears a breastband, but her dress or wrap has fallen down revealing her buttocks. She holds one end of the garment in her right hand, the rest is draped over her left arm. Her head is turned and she looks down toward the swan.

Annotations

Leda and the swan (3rd c. AD): mosaic from Palaepaphos, Cyprus. Photo: © Stephen Geraghty

Online Resources

Image Source: Stephen Geraghty

Associated Passages

Ovid, Amores 1.10