Embedded Files
VII-1 Theseus and the Minotaur
VII-1 Theseus and the Minotaur
Fresco from Pompeii, 1st century AD.
Theseus emerges from the dark entrance to the labyrinth, leading a child. The vanquished Minotaur lies over the threshold of the entrance. A crowd greets Theseus, both cheering his return and looking at horror at the dead Minotaur.
VII-2 Perseus with Andromeda after rescue
VII-2 Perseus with Andromeda after rescue
Fresco from Pompeii, 1st century AD.
Naples Archaeological Museum 8998. H. 1.22 m. from wall of the House of the Dioscuri, Pompeii.
Perseus has slain the monster, whose head is seen disappearing into the sea at the left. The hero now helps Andromeda down from the rock.
VII-3 Perseus rescuing Andromeda
VII-3 Perseus rescuing Andromeda
Two versions from the Bay of Naples, 1st century AD.
Right: Boscotrecase, country villa
Below: Pompeii, the House of the Priest Amandus
VII-4 The Odyssey Landscapes
VII-4 The Odyssey Landscapes
Odysseus arrives at the Land of the Laestrygonians (1)
Odysseus arrives at the Land of the Laestrygonians (1)
Vatican Museums. Height 1.16m. originally placed at top of 5.50 m. wall of room in house on Esquiline Hill, Rome.
First surviving scene: Odysseus arrives at the land of the Laestrygonians. He and two companions are greeting a woman holding a jug. Their ships are seen in the bay at the left. A cow can be seen at the right, indicating that this is a rich land.
Oddyseus arrives at the Land of the Laestrygonians (2)
Oddyseus arrives at the Land of the Laestrygonians (2)
Vatican Museums. Height 1.16m. originally placed at top of 5.50 m. wall of room in house on Esquiline Hill, Rome.
Second surviving scenes: In the scene after the promising arrival, we see the Laestrygonians getting rocks and tree branches to attack Odyssues and his comrades.
Odysseus flees from the Laestrygonians
Odysseus flees from the Laestrygonians
Vatican Museums. Height 1.16m. originally placed at top of 5.50 m. wall of room in house on Esquiline Hill, Rome.
Surviving scene. Odysseus and his companions are trying to escape from the Laestrygonians, who pursue them, hurling rocks that have already sunk a couple of ships.
Odysseus and Circe
Odysseus and Circe
Vatican Museums. Height 1.16m. originally placed at top of 5.50 m. wall of room in house on Esquiline Hill, Rome.
Fifth surviving scene. At the left, the sea is shown. The palace of Circe takes up most of the background. Just to the left of the tree, Odysseus is drawing his sword on Circe, who has fallen to her knees in front of him
Odysseus at the Entrance to the Underworld
Odysseus at the Entrance to the Underworld
Vatican Museums. Height 1.16m. Originally placed at top of 5.50 m. wall of room in house on Esquiline Hill, Rome.
Sixth surviving scene. Odysseus' ship anchors off the entrance to the underworld. Odysseus offers a sacrifice, and the dead throng to the entrance to drink the blood. The next scene, not shown here, shows figures being punished in the Underworld.
VII-5 Cupid Punished
VII-5 Cupid Punished
Painting from House of Cupid Punished, Pompeii.
Painting from House of Cupid Punished, Pompeii.
1.16 m. high. Archaeological Museum, Naples.
Venus sits under a tree with a scroll on her lap. She is dressed like a contemporary Roman woman, and is identifiable partly because her garment slips off her shoulder, and partly because of the small winged boy (eros or cupid) who stands behind her shoulder. A second winged boy is led forward by a more simply dressed woman. His hand is up to his face, probably wiping his eyes. We do not know any written story to which this refers, but we can figure out that this cupid has been mischievous, probably by causing unlikely people to fall in love, and is now being brought to his mother by his nurse to be scolded.
VII-6 Europa and the Bull
VII-6 Europa and the Bull
Painting from House of Cupid Punished, Pompeii.
Painting from House of Cupid Punished, Pompeii.
From another wall of the same room as the picture of Cupid Punished.
1.16 m. high, Archaeological Museum, Naples.
VII-7 House of the Vettii, Pompeii, reception room
VII-7 House of the Vettii, Pompeii, reception room
Maenads attack man (Pentheus), whom they will tear to pieces.
Maenads attack man (Pentheus), whom they will tear to pieces.
Baby Hercules strangling serpents, third wall of the Yellow Room.
Baby Hercules strangling serpents, third wall of the Yellow Room.
Torture of Ixion.
VII-8 House of the Vettii, Pompeii, Ixion Room
VII-8 House of the Vettii, Pompeii, Ixion Room
The Red Room from the House of the Vettii, Pompeii. In the middle of each wall is a mythological scene that involves characters who stand or sit quietly, staring.
Persons and Events:
Persons and Events:
Andromeda
Circe
Dirce (Dirke)
Europa
Odysseus
Pentheus
Perseus
Ulysses
Venus
Monster killing
Punishment
Rape
The Loves of Jupiter
Objects and Places:
Objects and Places:
House Decoration
Pompeii
Painting on house walls
Texts and Authors:
Texts and Authors:
Homer
Odyssey
Iliad
Ovid
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