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Myth of Perseus and Images
From the Beginning to Today
Every depiction of Perseus or Medusa in post-antique Europe is just as remarkable as the origin and development of this myth in ancient Greece and Rome. Pictures, reliefs and sculptures inspired by ancient myths are now incomprehensible to most people. From the once-rich artistic language, only a few phrases survive in general consciousness; what is more, these phrases have lost meaning through constant repetition. This book aims to speak the fearless Perseus, the terrifying Medusa, the selfless Danae, the beautiful Andromeda, and the mysterious Pegasus again. It analyses the evolution of grammar and vocabulary of these depictions from Greek antiquity to the present. The oldest depictions date to the second millennium BC, the youngest ones from the present time; they originated not only in Europe but also from the Near East and Northern America. Why the depictions of Perseus' myth? From the beginning, this myth was connected with the vision and imagery on which today's culture is built.
