Artwork description:

5 plate drypoint etching

Handprinted on somerset satin off white

Edition of 20

Paper Size 76x56 cm

Large plate 48x48 cm

Small plates 10x10 cm

Description of the smaller plates and their meaning as follows:

Poseidon
The god Poseidon sent a white bull to King Minos for the King to sacrifice. However, King Minos found the bull so magnificent that he refused to kill the beast and honour Poseidon.

The Bull
Poseidon was angered by King Minos and decided to punish him. Poseidon cursed Pasiphae, the wife of King Minos, to love and desire the bull. Daedalus, a famous scientist and inventor, created a wooden bull for Pasiphae to climb into so she could fulfil her desire for the bull.

The Minotaur
The result of the union of Pasiphae with the bull was the birth of Asterius, the Minotaur. Asterius was born with the body of a man and the head of a bull who would only eat the flesh of humans. Once the Minotaur is fully grown, Daedalus advised King Minos to construct a giant maze in which the Minotaur was imprisoned.

The Ball of Thread
Every nine years, seven young men and maidens from Athens were sent to be sacrificed and devoured by the Minotaur. Theseus, Prince of Athens, planned to kill the Minotaur and arrived as part this sacrifice. The daughter of King Minos, Ariadne, fell in love with Theseus and helped him slay the Minotaur. Daedalus advised Ariadne to give Theseus a ball of thread to find his way out of the maze. Theseus defeated the Minotaur, escaped the maze and fled with Ariadne.

Materials used:

Somerset satin off white paper

Tags:

#bull #etching #myths #story #maze #poseidon #legends #greek myths #minotaur #labyrinth #ariadne #daedalus #theseus #pasiphae