| Perhaps since man has had the power of imagination he has shaped both the gods and monsters in his pantheon of conciousness. The Greeks and Romans codified the gods and many of our best known monsters (the Minotaur, Hydra, Medusa, Cyclops, etc.). Therefore, when the Renaissance artists and writers embraced ancient texts and wisdom, they also embraced the gods and monsters of the ancient world. Although we do not suggest that for Saenredam or Goltzius, Primaticcio or Ghisi, Juno had replaced the Christian pantheon, she (and other gods and monsters) became a part of complex symbolism that was both didactic and decorative. |
