Myths and Legends: Jupiter's Transformations

After Michelangelo, 'Leda and the Swan', after 1530. London, The National Gallery.

Jupiter was the supreme ruler of all the gods and mortals. He is also known in Greek as Zeus. His powers enabled him to change into the shape of anything he wanted, which he often did in order to mix with mortals on earth. He also used these transformations to hide from his wife, Juno, while he was pursuing beautiful women.

Jupiter may appear in paintings disguised as a swan, a bull, an eagle, a cloud or a shower of gold. The stories are from the 'Metamorphoses', a long poem by the Classical (Roman) poet Ovid.

See Also

• Guido Reni, 'The Rape of Europa'
• Paolo Veronese, 'The Rape of Europa'
• Damiano Mazza, 'The Rape of Ganymede'
• Pieter Lastman, 'Juno discovering Jupiter with Io'

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