Dickinson College Commentaries

Rubens: Tereus' Banquet

Tereus (left) sits on a throne covered in red drapery. He faces Philomela and Procne (right) raising his left hand as if to ward the off; his right hand grips a sheathed sword. Procne holds her son, Itys', severed head in her bare hands, stretching it out toward her husband Tereus. Philomela stands behind Procne with her right hand on Procne's left shoulder. Philomela grips a thyrsus behind her back in her left hand. Both women's hair is loose and their clothing disarrayed indicating their madness.

Philomela and Procne prepare to kill Itys, detail of a red-figure wine cup attributed to Makron

Philomela (right) wears a chiton with her hair loose around her shoulders. She lifts the nude Itys (center) by the upper arms. Procne (left) faces Philomela gesturing with both hands raised. She wears a chiton and her hair is arranged on the back of her head with a ribbon tied around the crown of her head. A sword hilt is just visible on her left hip.

Pentheus and the Maenads, detail of a fresco from the House of the Vettii

Pentheus half-kneeling (center) is held by two maenads. The left maenad grabs his hair raising a thyrsus in her right hand. The second maenad (right) holds Pentheus by his left arm. Behind Pentheus a third maenad raises a rock above her head preparing to strike him. Two more maenads appear in the upper right and left hand corners.

Helios, detail of a metope from the Temple of Athena at Ilion

Helios (left) drives a four-horse chariot, the horses (right) rearing onto their hind legs. Helios' head is framed by a halo of rays.

Orestes seeking asylum at Delphi, detail of a Paestan Red-Figure Bell Krater attributed to Python

Orestes (foreground center) kneels beside the omphalos in front of a tripod at Delphi, seeking sanctuary from the Furies. Athena (left) and Apollo (right) intervene on his behalf.

Herakles and Alkyoneus, detail of a red-figure kylix

Herakles (left) sneaks up on the unconscious giant Alkyoneus (center), with Hermes (right) helping him. Herakles wears his lion skin and carries his club in his left hand. He gestures toward Alkyoneus with his right. Hermes carries his caduceus in his left hand and gestures toward Alkyoneus with his right. Alkyoneus lies with his feet toward Herakles and his right arm thrown over his face.

Herakles and the Golden Apples, detail of a metope from the Temple of Zeus at Olympia

Herakles stands (center) arms raised above his head supporting the sky. He is approached by Atlas (right) who offers him the golden apples of the Hesperides. Athena (left) stands behind Herakles helping him hold up the sky with her left hand.

Hercules slaying the Hydra, detail of the Twelve Labors from a Roman mosaic from Llíria

Heracles (left) grasps the Hydra (right) by one of its many necks while it coils its tail around his left leg. Hercules raises his club in his right hand, preparing to strike.

Hercules slaying the Nemean lion, detail of the Twelve Labors from a Roman mosaic from Llíria

Hercules (left) grapples with the Nemean lion (right). The lion rears up on his hind legs while Heracles wraps his right arm around the lion's muzzle. Heracles' club lies abandoned above the lion.

Danaë and the shower of gold, detail of a Boeotian red-figure krater

Danaë reclines on a bed draped with a patterned sheet. Her hair is arranged up on the back of her head and covered with a net or cloth. She wears a cloth drape open in front exposing her abdomen. Zeus in the form of rain falls on her abdomen.