Tiresias - Limited Edition 1 of 10 Photograph

This work is part of a series inspired by Greek Mythology. Not the common and most known myths, rather I get inspiration by less known stories. I used original photo of palms, as visual and symbolic reflection of the myth because I think that Ancients were strictly connected with the realm of nature while it still keeps nowadays a deep connection with the realm of archetypes, with which we have few conscious relations. It's like an Ariadne's thread. Every photo is related to a specific myth. This is about Tiresias, Ancient Greek: Τειρεσίας, Teiresias. Tiresias was a blind prophet of Apollo in Thebes, famous for clairvoyance and for being transformed into a woman for seven years. Tiresias participated fully in seven generations in Thebes, beginning as advisor to Cadmus himself. On Mount Cyllene in the Peloponnese, as Tiresias came upon a pair of copulating snakes, he hit the pair with his stick. Hera was displeased, and she punished Tiresias by transforming him into a woman. As a woman, Tiresias became a priestess of Hera, married and had children, including Manto, who also possessed the gift of prophecy. After seven years as a woman, Tiresias again found mating snakes; depending on the myth, either she made sure to leave the snakes alone this time, or, according to Hyginus, trampled on them. As a result, Tiresias was released from his sentence and permitted to regain his masculinity. This ancient story is recorded in lost lines of Hesiod. Tiresias is presented as a complexly liminal figure, mediating between humankind and the gods, male and female, blind and seeing, present and future, this world and the Underworld. Different stories were told of the cause of his blindness: one of this told that Tiresias was drawn into an argument between Hera and her husband Zeus, on the theme of who has more pleasure in sex: the man, as Hera claimed; or, as Zeus claimed, the woman, as Tiresias had experienced both. Tiresias replied, "Of ten parts a man enjoys one only.” Hera instantly struck him blind for his impiety. Zeus could do nothing to stop her or reverse her curse, but in recompense he did give Tiresias the gift of foresight and a lifespan of seven lives. How Tiresias obtained his information varied: sometimes, like the oracles, he would receive visions; other times he would listen for the songs of birds, or ask for a description of visions and pictures appearing within the smoke of burnt offerings, and so interpret them. It is print on archival acid free photographic paper, and accompanied by a signed and numbered certificate of authenticity. For mounting options and suggestions, please contact Saatchi Art team.

Photography:Color on Paper

Artist Produced Limited Edition of:1

Size:39.4 W x 59.1 H x 0 D in

Delivery Time:Typically 5-7 business days for domestic shipments, 10-14 business days for international shipments.