Leda and the Swan
is a classic subject in the arts.
«“Leda and the Swan” 1898 to 1900,
Maurice Ferrary (1852 to 1904),
Marble, green onyx and bronze, height 50.08cm»
The story behind this painting, is that the all powerful god Zeus, shape-shifted
himself into a swan so that he can cheat into fucking Leda. The outcome
of this zoophilia, is the conception of Helen and Clytemnestra and twin
Castor and Pollux. Of which, Helen is famed as the most beautiful woman,
and the Trojan War is a war fought over her. While, the twin Caster and
Pollux, is famously known as the Gemini (Latin for twin), and a constellation
is named after them.
Kouklia was the home to a cult of Aphrodite from at least 3,800 BC and was mentioned in many ancient texts, including Homer's Iliad. The temple complex is now largely in ruins but the many art treasures found there are now in museums in New York, Paris, London and Nicosia.
This is actually a copy of a 3rd century AD mosaic of Leda and the Swan at Kouklia. The original is in the museum but this copy was placed in the exact spot where the original was found.
Aphrodite is the goddess of copulation, worshied at Cyprus, her birth place.The temple was active from 12th cnetury BC to 4th C AD.
“Leda and the Swan”, ~1740. Attributed to [ Francois Boucher ] [ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francois_Boucher ]. (1703-70)
“Leda and the Swan”, ~1910, by C A Holland.
image source
Leda and the Swan, 1530, by Michelangelo.
Leda and the swan terracotta, Roman oil lamp 1c AD 15905
4140×3055
[image source flickr, photo by Carole Raddato]