Jupiter and Antiope

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Antoine Watteau: Jupiter and Antiope, around 1714–1719

Jupiter and Antiope is the title as well as the subject of historical paintings by different artists. It is based on the ancient Greek story of the seduction of Antiope by the god Zeus in the form of a satyr , who was called Jupiter in Roman mythology .

Jupiter and Antiope

Correggio: Jupiter and Antiope (with Eros), around 1528

The picture is based on the story of the seduction of Antiopes by the god father Zeus from Greek mythology, later equated with the Roman Jupiter in Roman mythology. Antiope, the beautiful daughter of King Nykteus of Thebes , was, following this myth, surprised and seduced by Zeus in the form of a satyr in his sleep. She became pregnant and gave birth to the twins Amphion and Zethus , who later killed Lykos , Nykteus' brother, in revenge for the bad treatment of Antiope and took control of the city of Thebes.

The story of the seduction of Antiopes is presented in the library of Apollodorus :

"Ἀντιόπη θυγάτηρ ἦν Νυκτέως ταύτῃ Ζεὺς συνῆλθεν. ἡ δὲ ὡς ἔγκυος ἐγένετο, τοῦ πατρὸς ἀπειλοῦντος εἰς Σικυῶνα ἀποδιδράσκει πρὸς Ἐπωπέα καὶ τούῖῳ γαμττ. Νυκτεὺς δὲ ἀθυμήσας ἑαυτὸν φονεύει, δοὺς ἐντολὰς Λύκῳ παρὰ Ἐπωπέως καὶ παρὰ Ἀντιόπας λαβεῖν δίκας. ὁ δὲ στρατευσάμενος Σικυῶνα χειροῦται, καὶ τὸν μὲν Ἐπωπέα κτείνει, τὴν δὲ Ἀντιόπηλν ἤγαγεν αοἰχμά “νν “νν “ν ”.

“Antiope was the daughter of Nykteus. She had dealings with Zeus. When she became pregnant, she fled from her father's threats to Sicyon to see Epopeus, whom she married. In desperation, Nykteus gave himself to death after he had previously commissioned Lycus to avenge him on Epopeus and Antiope. So he went to war against Sikyon, took control of it, killed Epopeus and led Antiope away as a prisoner. "

- Libraries of Apollodorus 3.5.5.5

For Homer , Antiope is the daughter of the river god Asopos :

"Τὴν δὲ μέτ 'Ἀντιόπην ἴδον, Ἀσωποῖο θύγατρα / ἣ δὴ καὶ Διὸς εὔχετ' ἐν ἀγκοίνῃσιν ἰαῦσαι / καί ῥ 'ἔτεκεν δύο παῖδ', Ἀμφίονά τε Ζῆθόν τε / οἳ πρῶτοι Θήβης ἕδος ἔκτισαν ἑπταπύλοιο / πύργωσάν τ ', ἐπεὶ οὐ μὲν ἀπύργωτόν γ 'ἐδύναντο / ναιέμεν εὐρύχορον Θήβην, κρατερώ περ ἐόντε. "

“Antiope also came, the beautiful daughter of Asopus, / boasting that she had rested in Zeus' embrace of the Kronids. / And she bore the god two sons, Amphion and Zethus. / They first built the Thebai with its seven doors, / And fortified it; because unpaved / neither, however strong they were, could protect the great Thebai. "

- Homer : Odyssey 11, 260-265.

The Roman poet Ovid described in his Metamorphoses the seduction of Antiope no longer by Zeus, but by Jupiter, in the story of Arachne , who interwoven the love of the gods in her weave in competition with Pallas Athene :

"Fecit et Asterien aquila luctante teneri, / fecit olorinis Ledam recubare sub alis; / addidit, ut satyri celatus imagine pulchram / Iuppiter inplerit gemino Nycteida fetu "

“She also paints Asteria, captured by the wrestling eagle; / Leda forms them like the swan covers them with its wings; / Then, like Jupiter, hiding in the satyr's shell / Filled the lovely daughter of Nykteus with double fruit "

- Ovid : Metamorphoses VI, 108-111.

Satyr and nymph

Satyrs and nymphs represent two extremes in Greek mythology that are only similar in their instinctuality. While the nymph is eponymous in psychiatry for nymphomania , a pathological sex addiction , the term satyriasis , which is also used in psychiatry and represents the male counterpart, is derived from the Greek satyr.

Agostino Carracci : Le Satyre et la Nymphe

Accordingly, both nymphs and satyrs are very often depicted in mythology and, based on this, in artistic reception in a clearly erotic context and are accordingly popular objects in the performing arts. There is also the obvious aesthetic contrast between the two stereotypes . The nymph is generally very beautiful and has a perfect body. She is usually depicted with ivory-colored, pale and therefore very delicate skin and an ideal female body, and in this respect resembles the depictions of Venus . The satyrs who are followers of Bacchus , on the other hand, are mostly ugly. It has features of the billy goat such as horns on the head, goat legs and at least some fur. They are also strong and sunburned. Compared to the nymph, the satyr represents an optical contrast that can hardly be stronger, making them a perfect pair for artistic representation. As representatives of the god Bacchus, satyrs in mythology also enjoyed a great freedom to act out their lust - especially with the equally sex-loving nymphs.

In the representations of satyrs and nymphs, another mythical figure usually plays a major role: Eros, the god of love . He uses his love arrows to prepare the nymphs for making love with the satyrs, so he is often depicted in paintings with this couple.

Paintings and etchings (selection)

The seduction of Antiope in the form of the satyr was taken up by a number of artists and processed in paintings and etchings. Particularly well-known works include:

See also

Remarks

  1. ^ Translation after CG Moser u. D. Vollbach. Stuttgart, 1828
  2. ^ Translation after Johann Heinrich Voss . Hamburg, 1781. [1]
  3. ↑ Translation by R.Suchier, E.Klussmann and A.Berg. Berlin, 1855-1919
  4. ^ Section after Eva Gesine Baur : Masterpieces of erotic art. Dumont Verlag, Cologne 1995; Pages 58-64. ISBN 3-7701-3599-7