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22 Paintings That Brought To Life Greek Myths and Legends

Greek mythology has always played a highly influential role in the development of culture and art. Greek mythological stories have served as the basis for numerous books, films, and other forms of media and entertainment. The Greek Gods themselves have maintained fame and notoriety, like Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, her husband Hephaestus, the deformed god of fire and metalworking, and the unforgettable Poseidon, God of the sea and adulterous partner of Aphrodite. 

Greek myths are known for their tragedy and the Gods, for their duplicitous nature. These fantastical and terrifying stories of beasts and brawls have inspired the creation of some of the most beautiful works of art in this world. Paintings and sculptures by the most notable artists in the world memorialize triumphs, defeats, and the power unleashed within these stories. These gorgeous paintings plucked straight out of the tales of Greek mythology will leave you searching for the legends behind them. 

 

1. ‘The Love of Paris and Helen’, by Jacques-Louis David, 1788

Paintings by various notable artists from different eras inspired by stories from Greek Mythology, ‘The Love of Paris and Helen’, by Jacques-Louis David, 1788

(By Jacques-Louis David, Wikimedia Commons)  

2. ‘Cymon and Iphigenia’, by Frederic Leighton, 1884

Paintings by various notable artists from different eras inspired by stories from Greek Mythology, ‘Cymon and Iphigenia’, by Frederic Leighton, 1884

(By Lord Frederic Leighton, Wikimedia Commons)  

3. ‘Ulysses and the Sirens’, by Herbert James Draper, 1909 

Paintings by various notable artists from different eras inspired by stories from Greek Mythology, ‘Ulysses and the Sirens’, by Herbert James Draper, 1909

(By Herbert James Draper, Wikimedia Commons)

4. ‘Thetis Receiving the Weapons of Achilles from Hephaestus’, by Anthony van Dyck, 1630-1632

Paintings by various notable artists from different eras inspired by stories from Greek Mythology, ‘Thetis Receiving the Weapons of Achilles from Hephaestus’, by Anthony van Dyck, 1630-1632

(By Anthony van Dyck, Wikimedia Commons)  

5. ‘Odysseus on the island of the Phaecians’, by Peter Paul Rubens, 1630-1635

Paintings by various notable artists from different eras inspired by stories from Greek Mythology, ‘Odysseus on the island of the Phaecians’, by Peter Paul Rubens, 1630-1635

(By Peter Paul Rubens, Wikimedia Commons)  

6. ‘The Sorrow of Telemachus’, by Angelica Kauffman, 1783

Paintings by various notable artists from different eras inspired by stories from Greek Mythology, ‘The Sorrow of Telemachus’, by Angelica Kauffman, 1783

(By Angelica Kauffman, Wikimedia Commons)

7. ‘The Sorceress’, by John William Waterhouse, 1911-1915 

Paintings by various notable artists from different eras inspired by stories from Greek Mythology, ‘The Sorceress’, by John William Waterhouse, 1911-1915

(By John William Waterhouse, Wikimedia Commons)  

8. ‘Echo and Narcissus’, by John William Waterhouse, 1903

Paintings by various notable artists from different eras inspired by stories from Greek Mythology, ‘Echo and Narcissus’, by John William Waterhouse, 1903

(By John William Waterhouse, Wikimedia Commons)  

9. ‘The Myth of Prometheus’, by Piero di Cosimo, 1515

Paintings by various notable artists from different eras inspired by stories from Greek Mythology, ‘The Myth of Prometheus’, by Piero di Cosimo, 1515

(By Piero di Cosimo, Wikimedia Commons)  

10. ‘The Lament for Icarus’, by Herbert Draper, 1898

Paintings by various notable artists from different eras inspired by stories from Greek Mythology, ‘The Lament for Icarus’, by Herbert Draper, 1898

(By Herbert James Draper, Wikimedia Commons)  

11. ‘Charon Crossing the Styx’, by Joachim Patinier, 1515-1524

Paintings by various notable artists from different eras inspired by stories from Greek Mythology, ‘Charon Crossing the Styx’, by Joachim Patinier, 1515-1524

(By Joachim Patinir, Wikimedia Commons)

12. ‘The Battle Between Love and Chastity’, by Pietro Perugino, 1503 

Paintings by various notable artists from different eras inspired by stories from Greek Mythology, ‘The Battle Between Love and Chastity’, by Pietro Perugino, 1503

(By Pietro Perugino, Wikimedia Commons)  

13. ‘The Calumny of Apelles’, by Sandro Botticelli, 1494-1495

Paintings by various notable artists from different eras inspired by stories from Greek Mythology, ‘The Calumny of Apelles’, by Sandro Botticelli, 1494-1495

(By Sandro Botticelli, Wikimedia Commons)  

14. ‘Hercules and the Hydra’, by Francisco de Zurbarán, 1634

Paintings by various notable artists from different eras inspired by stories from Greek Mythology, ‘Hercules and the Hydra’, by Francisco de Zurbarán, 1634

(By Francisco de Zurbarán, Wikimedia Commons)

15. ‘Bacchus and Ariadne’, by Titian, 1522-1523 

Paintings by various notable artists from different eras inspired by stories from Greek Mythology, ‘Bacchus and Ariadne’, by Titian, 1522-1523

(By Titian, Wikimedia Commons)  

16. ‘The Abduction of Ganymede’, by Rembrandt, 1635

Paintings by various notable artists from different eras inspired by stories from Greek Mythology, ‘The Abduction of Ganymede’, by Rembrandt, 1635

(By Rembrandt, Wikimedia Commons)  

17. ‘Telemachus and the Nymphs of Calypso’, by Angelica Kauffman, 1782

Paintings by various notable artists from different eras inspired by stories from Greek Mythology, ‘Telemachus and the Nymphs of Calypso’, by Angelica Kauffman, 1782

(By Angelica Kauffman, Wikimedia Commons)  

18. ‘Prometheus Bound’, by Thomas Cole, 1847

Paintings by various notable artists from different eras inspired by stories from Greek Mythology, ‘Prometheus Bound’, by Thomas Cole, 1847

(By Thomas Cole, Wikimedia Commons)  

19. ‘Sappho and Phaon’, by Jacques-Louis David, 1809

Paintings by various notable artists from different eras inspired by stories from Greek Mythology, ‘Sappho and Phaon’, by Jacques-Louis David, 1809

(By Jacques-Louis David, Wikimedia Commons)

20. ‘The Sirens and Ulysses’, by William Etty, 1837

Paintings by various notable artists from different eras inspired by stories from Greek Mythology, ‘The Sirens and Ulysses’, by William Etty, 1837

(By William Etty, Wikimedia Commons)  

21. ‘The Death of Actaeon’, by Titian, 1559

Paintings by various notable artists from different eras inspired by stories from Greek Mythology, ‘The Death of Actaeon’, by Titian, 1559

(By Titian, Wikimedia Commons)  

22. ‘The Fall of Phaeton’, by Peter Paul Rubens, 1604-1605 

Paintings by various notable artists from different eras inspired by stories from Greek Mythology, ‘The Fall of Phaeton’, by Peter Paul Rubens, 1604-1605

(By Peter Paul Rubens, Wikimedia Commons)

 

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