Images

A scene from a Greek red-figure vase depicting the death of Talos, the iron automaton which protected Crete.

A red-figure vase depicting Scylla, the monster which preyed on victims going through the Straits of Messina. Boeotian, 450-425 BCE. (Louvre Museum, Paris)

A table support representing the sea monster Charybdis, said to haunt the straits between Sicily and the Italian peninsula. 2nd century CE. (Archaeological Museum of Naples)

The punishment of the 50 daughters of Danaus who, for killing their husbands on their wedding night, must fill a bowl with water down in Hades - a task which never ends as the bowl leaks. (Painting by John William Waterhouse, 1849-1917 CE)

A mosaic depicting the Greek river/water goddess Tethys. (Antakya Museum, Turkey)

A Roman mosaic depicting the Greek primordial gods Uranus (in the guise of the later Aion) and Gaia. Sentinum, 3rd century CE. (Glyptothek, Munich)

A depiction of the snake-monster Typhon of Greek mythology on a black-figure vase. 540-530 BCE. (Staatliche Antikensammlungen, Munich)

A marble statue of Themis, the primordial goddess associated with Justice. c. 300 BCE. National Archaeological Museum, Athens.

A 17th century CE oil painting by Gioacchino Assereto depicting Tantalus, he who was punished by Zeus and had to stand under a fruit tree that remained forever just out of reach. (Auckland Art Gallery, New Zealand)

A painting by Antoine Borel (1743-1810) depicting Thetis dipping Achilles into the River Styx to make him immortal.