HOME | DD
cidaq — Argus' Heir
Published: 2012-07-18 11:32:55 +0000 UTC; Views: 5527; Favourites: 262; Downloads: 52
Redirect to original
Description
The text is taken from an early 18th century translation of Ovid's Metamorphoses (book I).Jupiter falls in love with Io. When his wife Juno threatens to discover his amour, he turns Io into a rather pretty cow. Juno asks it as a gift from her husband, who can't deny it without betraying his deception. Juno then orders the many-eyed Argus to guard Io. To free her, Jupiter sends Mercury, who first lulls Argus to sleep and then cuts off his head. Juno takes his many eyes and places them on the tail of her peacock.
So much about the very human activities of classical deities...
Argus with his watchful eyes has sometimes been interpreted as symbolising reason. In this context I found it quite interesting that his eyes are placed on the tail of a peacock, a bird generally associated with vanity (see for instance the fable of Juno and the peacock in Aesop).
Ink and watercolour...
Related content
Comments: 15
I am particularly taken with your elegant lettering. Lovely!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Though I've never read Ovid, I recognized the story. How would you describe his Metamorphoses?
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Juno was never my favorite goddess but who wouldn't adore Ovid if given the chance to read?
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
In Dutch, having "Argus ogen" (Argus eyes) means that someone is suspicious... Anyway doesn't Jupiter manage to impregnate Io as cow anyway? XD nothing can stop the "love" from a god I guess...
Great art, as always
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
In German it means to observe keenly. And yes, he did.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Ooo that's one of my faves out of Metamorphoses~ this is lovely looking.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Very interesting! I find Roman/Greek mythology extremely intriguing. I'm glad that you shared the backstory, for that is one I haven't heard yet. Great concept!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
This piece of writing is highly Hermetic both in symbolism and language.
Beautiful drawing with mystery and grace.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Really pretty. I love that particular story in Greek mythology, and the whole thing in general.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Aaaaa gorgeous!! I'm getting a Kay Nielsen vibe off of this in the best way possible.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Interestingly, the peacock as a symbol of vanity seems to be a peculiarly western idea, whereas in many eastern cultures, apart from the obvious association with beauty, it can also be symbolic of love and compassion; and as the vehicular animal of the goddess Surasvati in Hindu mythology, it can even be symbolic of wisdom and knowledge, which brings it rather neatly back to the eyes of Argus in this context.
Another gorgeous drawing. Echoes of Walter Crane in this one, I think.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
You may well be right.
I suppose we, i. e. western culture, owe the association of the peacock (=beauty) with vanity to the antisensuous cult that Christianity turned into in the High Middle Ages. In the early Christian imagery the peacock symbolised immortality and bliss. First when beauty no longer was seen as an expression of the good and the noble it became mainly connected with vanity.
It is interesting that the original Latin text does not seem to mention anything, which would correspond with the word 'gaudy' in the 18th century translation, a word now rather negatively connoted.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0