Perseo presenta la cabeza de Medusa a Atlante, que al verla queda transformado en montana

Title

Perseo presenta la cabeza de Medusa a Atlante, que al verla queda transformado en montana

Period

1800-1850;

Geographic

Libya

North Africa

Ancient Greece

Description

This image depicts the demi-god Perseus on the right side of the image presenting the head of Medusa to Atlas, who is standing on the left side of the image. Perseus is holding out Medusa’s head with his right arm and he uses his left arm to shield his own face away to avoid looking into Medusa’s eyes. Atlas is depicted holding out his hands and has a shocked expression on his face. When people look into Medusa’s eyes they turn to stone, however, Atlas is so large and strong that when he looks at Medusa’s head he turns into a mountain. Years ago, Atlas was given a prophecy that predicted a man born of Zeus would steal the apples off his trees, so in order to protect them from Perseus, he erected a high wall made of stone and forced a serpent to guard the entrance to the orchard. The serpent is illustrated in the background of the image.

Image Creator

D. José Assensio (Engraver)

Type

Text

Engraving

Identifier

mta:24964

Language

spa

Source Name

Metamorfoseos o Transformaciones de Ovidio, Traducidos al Castellano con Algunas Notas Para su Inteligencia, Por Don Francisco Crivell [Metamorphoses or Transformations of Ovid, Translated into Castilian with Notes for your Intelligence, By Don Francisco Crivell]

Parent Collection

Metamorfoseos o Transformaciones de Ovidio Traducidos al Castellano. Engravings by D. Jose Assensio (1809)

Image

mta_24964_OBJ.jpg

Collection

Ovid's Metamorphoses

Subject

Perseus

Medusa

Atlas

Transformation

Gods

Goddesses

Mythology