MIT MuseumObjects
Viewing Record 79 of 391Previous Record Next Record
Switch Views: Lightbox | Image List | List
Welcome to the archived version of the MIT Museum's online collections portal! This site was used to test features and content for the newly redesigned MIT Museum Collections site, which has now launched with over 106,000 objects. Please use the new MIT Museum Collections site for further research and discovery. Webmuseum.mit.edu remains online during the transition period but will not receive new updates or content.
Andromeda and Perseus
Named collection: Allan Forbes Collection
Object type: engraving
Maker: unknown
Place made: unknown
Date made: 1656
Materials: ink; paper
Measurements: 13 1/2 in x 23 1/4 in
Nomenclature: mythology
Classification: whales
Depicts the Greek mythological story of Perseus rescuing the Ethopian princess Andromeda from being eaten by a sea monster (Cetus-- commonly depicted as a whale or shark). Andromeda's mother, Cassiopeia, claimed to be more beautiful than the sea nymphs. Outraged by her claim, Poseidon punished Ethoppia by flooding it and plaguing it with a sea monster. An oracle informed Andromeda's father, King Cepheus, that the punishment would end if he sacrificed his daughter to the sea monster. Perseus saw the princess passing by and fell in lover with her, so he saved her by turning the sea monster into stone with Medusa's head. In the print, Andromeda is the largest and central figure. Nude, she is chained to a rock. To the right of her are her parents stricken with grief and to the left of her is a scene where Perseus, on Pegasus, holding Medusa's head out to the sea monster.
AF-LX-1143B