The Sphinx was a female monster with the body of a lion, the chest and head of a woman, eagle wings and a seprent-headed tail.
The Sphinx was sent by the gods to plague the town of Thebus as punishment for some ancient crime. She would devour those who failed to solve her riddle.
Kreon, the regent of Thebes, offered the kingship to any man who could destroy her. Oidipous accepted the challenge and when he solved the Sphinx's riddle, she cast herself off a mountainside in despair. This was also in accordance with an oracle declaring the terms of her demise.
The Sphinx was popular in ancient art, especially as sculptural grave set upon the tombs of men who died in youth. Decorative Sphinx's also appear in animal processions in archaic Greek vases, often alongside lions and bird-bodies sirens.
Paintings:
Oidipous taking on the challenge of defeating the Sphinx
Fine Art print
Books:
TITLE: The message of the Sphinx: A quest for the hidden legacy of mankind
AUTHOR: Graham Hancock
YEAR: 1997
TITLE: Pagan's Sphinx
AUTHOR: William Webster
YEAR: 2012
TITLE: Sphinx
AUTHOR: Robin Cook
YEAR: 1983
Film / Television Series:
Film - 'Sphinx'
1981
Documentary - 'The Greek Sphinx'
2011
Photography:
By Mandy Greer
Title: Nina von Schlebrugg and Sphinx, Egypt Queen
Myth (Sphinx) by Marc Quinn (Southey's sculpture exhibition at Chatsworth House)
Sphinx by Alina Soloviova
The Sphinx waxs also commonly know within the Egyptian era. It had a very similar appearance to that found in Greek mythology.
The Graeae were a group of female monsters who shared an eye and a tooth and were the offspring of Ceto and Phorcys. The Graeae sisters included Deino, Enyo and Persis.
They took the form of old, grey-haired women and were the goddesses of old age. Since they were still classified as monsters, they were given no power or regard by the other gods.
DEINO (the terrible): Deino was the manifestation of dread, and the dreadful anticipation of horror.
ENYO (the war-like): Enyo was the manifestation of horror, and the 'waster of cities'. She had an identity separate from her sisterhood, but is not to be confused with the goddess of war - Enyo.
PERSIS (the destroyer): Pemphredo was the manifestation of alarm, or shoc.
Perseus stole the eye and tooth, and compelled the sisters to reveal the hidden location of their sister, Gorgones.
The Graeae sisters were usually depicted as old crones. However, they were known to appear as Seiren-shaped monsters with the head and arms of women and the bodies of swans.
Paintings:
TITLE: Perseus and the Graiae
ARTIST: Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones
YEAR: 1892
Oil on canvas
TITLE: Stygian Witches
ARTIST: Brian LeBlanc
Comic art
TITLE: The Graeae
ARTIST: C. Parada
Books:
TITLE: Sins of the Sisters
AUTHOR: Faith A. Keahey
Film / Television Series:
Documentary - 'The 3 hags: The Graeae Sisters'
2013
Film - 'Clash of the Titans'
2010
Photography:
The Graeae sisters were known for sharing an eye and tooth. The evil eye is a malevolent look that many cultures believe is able to cause injury or
misfortune for the person at whom it is directed for reasons of envy or
dislike. Talismans were created in order to help protect a person from bad luck - These are often called Evil Eyes. The evil eye dates back to Classical antiquity.
There have been makeup designs containing the Eye of Horus look...
Creating the eye of Horus using prosthetics
A contemporary take on the eye
Lady Gaga often uses the Eye of Horus in her music videos
The Erinyes were female deites of vengeance. They were created in the same way as Meliae - When Cronus castrated his father, Uranus, and threw his genitalia into the sea, the Erinyes emerged from the drops of blood when it fell to the Earth.
They are crones and, depending upon authors, described as having snakes for hair, dog's heads, coal black bodies, bats wings, and blod-shot eyes. They were mainly known for being ugly, winged women with hair, arms and waists entwined with poisonous serpents. They wielded whips and were clothed either in the long black robes of mourners, or the short-length skirts and boots of huntress-maidens.
The Erinyes lived in Erebus and their job was to punish criminals by hounding culprits relentlessly. In their hands, they carry brass-studded scourges, so their victims died in torment. They were also servants of Hades and Persephone in the underworld, where they oversaw the torture of criminals consigned to the Dungeons of the Damned.
Paintings:
TITLE: Orestes pursued by the Erinyes
A\RTIST: William-Adolphe
YEAR: Approx. 1870
TITLE: Orestes and the Erinyes
ARTIST: Franz Stuck
YEAR: 1905
The Furies is a 64 year old film with influence from furies in Greek Mythology. The Furies and the Erinyes were very similar creatures.
Game - 'God of War: Ascension'
PS3
2013
Again, this game is based on Furies and not Erinyes', even though they have very similar actions. The only difference is their appearance.
Music Video - 'Heart Attack' by Demi Lovato
2013
I love the idea of this music video, where Demi Lovato smears herself in black paint. I think that black paint / airbrushing would work great for a fashion photographic image for the Erinyes.
Photography:
TITLE: Erinyes
PHOTOGRAPHER: Fusion Spot Photo
YEAR: 2013
The stylist for this shoot has incorporated the matt black body look by getting the model to wear a long black dress and a jacket, appearing to be bat wings. The hair and makeup is very simple and looks quite natural.
Other photographers have shot the following images:
I absolutely love this image! I would quite like to airbrush someones face and body black. Then add feathers around the shoulders to incorporate the bat wings.
The Minotaur was a creature with the head of a bull and the body of a man. Queen Pasiphae of Crete had coupled with a bull, sent by Zeus, which was the creation of the Minotaur. The Minotaur's propor name was Asterion, meaning 'the starry one', which suggests that he was associated with the constellation Tauros.
King Mino's was embarassed, but did not want to kill the monster, so he hid the monster in the Labyrinth constructed by Daedalus at the Minoan Palace of Knosses. Mino's was imprisoning his enemies in the Labyrinth so that the Minotaur could eat them. The Labyrinth was such a complicated construction that no one could ever find their way out alive.
The third year, Theseus, son of Aegeus decided to be one of the seven young men that would go to Crete, in order to kill the Minotaur and end the human sacrifices to the monster. Theseus announced to King Minos that he was going to kill the Monster, but Minos knew that even if he did manage to kill the Minotaur, Theseus would never be able to exit the Labyrinth.
Theseus met Princess Ariadne, daughter of King Minos, who fell madly in love with him and decided to help Theseus. She gave him a thread and told him to unravel it as he would penetrate deeper and deeper into the Labyrinth, so that he knows the way out when he kills the monster.
Theseus followed her suggestion and entered the labyrinth with the thread. Theseus managed to kill the Minotaur and save the Athenians, and with Ariadne’s thread he managed to retrace his way out.
Theseus took Princess Ariadne with him and left Crete sailing happily back to Athens.
Paintings:
TITLE: Theseus Killing the Minotaur
ARTIST: William Russell Flint
YEAR: 1924
Watercolour painting
This painting shows Theseus killing the Minotaur. The painter has used lots of clouds within the painting, perhaps representing the Gods of ancient Greece.
ARTIST: Picasso
Picasso had a strong interest in the Minotaur from Greek mythology. He has many paintings of this creature, in which I have posted a few below.
Film / Television Series:
Film - 'Minotaur'
2008
This film is about Theseus replacing one of the prisoners, with himself, and heading into the Labyrinth to slay the Minotaur.
TRAILER:
FULL MOVIE:
Documentary - 'Clash of the Gods: The Minotaur'
2013
This documentary of the Minotaur contains lots of information on the creature. It goes into detail about the myth and where he may have lived.
Music Video - 'Minotaur' by Thee Oh Sees
2013
This music video is a commical modern version of the greek mythical monster. It tells the story of what happened with Theseus and the Minotaur in a funny concept.
This photograher has used photoshop to merge an actual bulls head onto a male human in post production.
Other photographers work includes:
Below is the first moodboard in which I have created for the Minotaur. I have included the images that I thought would work well for his final look. I love the idea of using a model with a dark hair colour and applying extensions and mesh to create huge bull horns. Also, I would quite like to create very dark eye makeup that is very extravagant. I have added glitter and sequins to the mood board as I may find these useful when desinging the makeup. I have also included jewellery to start thinking about the styling side of the character.
