The Birth of the Milky Way

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In this painting we see Hercules placed in Hera's arms so that he can suckle while she slept next to her chariot pulled by peacocks. When, in his enthusiasm, Hercules bites Hera, and she awakens and brusquely pulls him away from her. The milk spilling out of her breast turned into the Milky Way.
The Birth of the Milky Way. 1636-1638. Oil on canvas

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An oil canvas painting (181 x 244 cm) by 17th century European painter Peter Paul Rubens in 1637.

The painting depicts Zeus in the background appearing to look bored whereas Hera's peacocks look distressed. To ensure Hercules immortality, Zeus places Hercules on Hera's lap while she was asleep so that Hercules could suckle on Hera. While suckling, Hercules bites and wakes up Hera who then proceeds to abruptly pull Hercules away from her as her milk spills from the left breast over the heavens and turning into the Milky Way.

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  • type
    Image
  • created on
  • file format
    png
  • file size
    3 MB
  • creator
    Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640)
  • rights
    Copyright © 2022. Museo Nacional del Prado. Calle Ruiz de Alarcón 23. Madrid. 28014. Tel +34 91 330 2800. All rights reserved
  • rights holder
    Museo Nacional del Prado
  • rights territory
    Madrid, Spain