Ancient Scene of Mosaic Art-3

Antiope & Zeus

Gaziantep Archaeological Museum / 1st 2nd century AD

According to the legend, Zeus came down from Olympus one day in the form of Satyr to seduce Antiope, the daughter of Nykteus. Antiope was sleeping in the shade of high trees at that time. While she was sleeping, the god lay down next to her and had sex with her. From that day on, Antiope began to feel two children stirring in her belly.

Gaziantep Museum / Roman Imperial Period

However, the girl's father did not know who she was pregnant from and treated her very badly. Unable to bear this situation, Antiope fled from her father's house one day and took refuge in Sykion. Epopeus, the king of Sykion, fell in love with this fugitive princess and married her immediately. Hearing this, Antiope's father killed himself out of sadness. But before he died, he wanted his brother Lykos to take revenge on Antiope and her husband Epopeus. Upon this, Lykos marched to Sykon without wasting any time and killed king Epopeus. He took Antiope captive and had her put in chains. Antiope gave birth to her two children on the road and had to abandon them. Shepherds found these children, one named Zethos and the other named Amphion, and raised them. Then these two brothers became king of Boiotia and founded the city of Thebai.



Bibliography;

-M.D. Dunbabin, Katherine, “ Mosaics of the Greek and Roman World “, Cambridge University press, 1999.

-Sander, Loma, “ Encyclopedia of Mosaic Art “, The English Press, 2012.

-Belkis and Zeugma Mosaics, Istanbul, 2006

-Greco-Roman Mosaics, Theoi Greek Mythology, https://www.theoi.com