Ariadne and Dionysus

MoonSpiral

Ariadne and Dionysus

9×12 soft pastel and a gold oil pastel on colorfix paper

Featured image in the groups THE PATCHWORK, and *♂♥♥QUORN♥♥♀

Ariadne was most likely the ancient Minoan Snake goddess. The island of Crete was once a very strong matriarchal society and Ariadne was their powerful mother goddess. When the patriarchal Greeks overtook the island they rewrote Ariadne to be the human daughter of King Minos, and there by stripping her of her goddess power.
The Greek myth has her saving the Greek hero Theseus from the dark and scarry labyrinth and the creepy minotaur (symbols for the womb of the goddess and our own connection to the animal world…through the goddess).
Anyway she saves Theseus and they run off together. Then Theseus decides to dump Ariadne, pregnant no less, on an island. The Greek ultimate partying god, Dionysus, spots her there and falls in love with her. As a way of honoring Ariadne he puts her crown into the heavens and it becomes the constellation Corona Borealis.
Though Ariadne doesn’t play a large role in Greek myth, she seems to be strong in our collective conscious. There have been many paintings depicting her. One such painting was Klimt’s “Kiss”. The white flowers placed at the woman’s crown in the painting are in the exact positions of the stars of the Corona Borealis. The man is wearing ivy in his hair to connect him to Dionysus. I decided to do this painting Klimt style to honor him for symbolically placing Ariadne and Dionysus in his masterpiece.
The real truth behind Dionysus is he is the god of ecstasy. I figure Ariadne felt the ecstasy of his kiss long before he touched her. In fact, Ariadne herself might be a symbol for ascension, for feeling the ecstasy of oneness with god and then going to heaven through our crown (chakras).

Ariadne and Dionysus belongs to the following groups:

1 on 1: The Fine Art of Portraiture , ***♂♥♥QUORN♥♥♀, 1 In The Beginning - Ancient Practices, Art Inspired by Dreams, Contemporary Pastel Painters, Core [C.O.R.E], Fine Art of the Female Form, Fine Arts, Greek and Roman Mythology, Myths, Legends and Fairytales, Outsiders, Pentacle Passions, Practising the Dark Arts, Solo Exhibition, Something To Say, Spiritual Art, THE FRINGE, The Patchwork , THE SISTERHOOD and Unconventional Artistry - 3 per day Available for sale as

Greeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints, Framed Prints and Posters
Ariadne and Dionysus by MoonSpiral
Ariadne and Dionysus by MoonSpiral
  • AnitaInverarity

    AnitaInverarity

    Beautiful xxxxx

  • MoonSpiral replied

    Thankyou Anita…I obviously love the piece you just added…I love the fairy tarot too!!!

  • AnitaInverarity

    AnitaInverarity

    Thank you so much- I really like the Klimt reference in this, very magical xx

  • MoonSpiral replied

    And thankyou again….
    There are a lot of us on here that do tarot…
    We need to trade readings;-)

  • AnitaInverarity

    AnitaInverarity

    Thats a great idea :))))))))) xxxxx

  • MoonSpiral replied

    Just sent you a Bmail about this;-)

  • Astoreth

    Astoreth

    Truly beautiful and my soul resonates with your image and words. x

  • MoonSpiral replied

    Thankyou so much my friend for such a heartfelt, beautiful comment!!!

  • dawndavies

    dawndavies

    fabulous!!!!

  • MoonSpiral replied

    Awww thankyou sooooo much Dawn!!!!!

  • Sensiworld

    Sensiworld

    Great work !!

  • MoonSpiral replied

    Thankyou so much Sylvia!!!!

  • Barbara Glatzeder

    Barbara Glatzeder

    Oh very nice! I like your interpretations and especially the lengths you go to to explain. I always find personal interpretations of the myths very interesting and enlightning and can really relate to yours! (Now where’s that Tequila?! hee hee)

  • MoonSpiral replied

    Hopefully the length of my interpretations are not too long….those darn Mercurial tendencies of mine…..:-) Thankyou Babsi!!!!
    (Actually I think I will go for some red wine….I would be out for days if I did Tequila).

  • Druidstorm

    Druidstorm

    I hate it when mankind can strip a Goddess of her powers! Yet still she holds a special magik within the hearts of many! Beautiful artwork friend!!!...)o(

  • MoonSpiral replied

    Very well said….she never leaves our hearts!!! Thankyou my friend!!

  • tkrosevear

    tkrosevear

    this is fabulous Tammy ;) xoxox

  • MoonSpiral replied

    Thankyou so much sister Tammy!!!!

  • Tahnja

    Tahnja

    wowee Tammy, this is one astonishing and truly outstanding piece from the perfect expression on her gorgeous face to the wonderful face of Dionysus. Inspirational background. You’re such a gem of a soul hunny

  • MoonSpiral replied

    Wowee Tahnja, that was one beautiful thing to say!!! Thankyou so much dear friend!!!!

  • PERUGINA

    PERUGINA

    Hi there Moonspiral, this does have resonances of Klimt when i laid eyes on it immediately before even reading your description. I love the symbolism, the composition and the figure work in the woman. Another great and gorgeous addition to your body of work!

  • MoonSpiral replied

    Your comments are always so well thought out and supportive, I appreciate them dearly!!!!!

  • Alexandra Felgate

    Alexandra Felgate

    Love the Klimnt-ness of it, and its one of my favourite Greek legends :)

  • MoonSpiral replied

    Thankyou so much Alexandra, obviously me too;-)

  • Emma Wertheim

    Emma Wertheim

    I’m totally loving this one! Well done Tammy – you are really growing as an Artist…amazing work!
    :)

  • MoonSpiral replied

    Thankyou so much sis*star!!!:)

  • Naomi Downie

    Naomi Downie

    I would like a God to fly down to my island and kiss
    me like that…love the expression on her face…even after heartbreak there is hope of renewal of happiness again

  • MoonSpiral replied

    Don’t we all sis*star…..hohum…...Thankyou Naomi!!:)

  • Sally Omar

    Sally Omar

    Beautiful & sensual!!!!!!!! xoxoxoxoxo

  • MoonSpiral replied

    Thankyou Sally….I think Spring is bringing out the sensuality in a few of us:)

  • KazM

    KazM

    Gorgeous pastel
    Well deserved featuring in the Patchwork Group

  • MoonSpiral replied

    Thankyou so much Kaz!!!:)

  • NomadicGoddess

    NomadicGoddess

    Tastefully sensual, very nicely created

  • MoonSpiral replied

    Thankyou….I am glad you think it is tastefully sensual….I don’t have any desire to make porn:)

  • Anni Morris

    Anni Morris

    Shades of Klimt clearly coming through in this work of yours, stunning image ~ Anni :)

  • MoonSpiral replied

    Thankyou so much Anni, I appreciate your comment!!!!

  • Helene Kippert

    Helene Kippert

    Love your interpretation and this is a wonderful image!

  • MoonSpiral replied

    Oh thankyou Helene…I am glad you like them both!!!!

  • izzybeth

    izzybeth

    congratulations on the feature and this is so well deserved

  • MoonSpiral replied

    Awww thankyou so much Izzy!!!

  • Jewd

    Jewd

    Amazing, I have been dreaming of Klimt last night and thinking my next painting will be inspired by him…and here you are today with this inspiring piece as well…how wonderful…your composition is very harmonic…x

  • MoonSpiral replied

    How strange conciousness is…..yeah I am suddenly obsessed w/ Klimt after I did this one. Thankyou Jewd!!!

  • Lynsye Medalia

    Lynsye Medalia

    This is by far my favorite of yours! So much emotion pours through her face! Great job!

  • MoonSpiral replied

    Awww thanks Lynsye, I am very pleased you like it :-)

  • Lisa Heacock

    Lisa Heacock

    great capture of emotion! this is very beautiful work!

  • MoonSpiral replied

    Thankyou so much Lisa!!!!

  • tkrosevear

    tkrosevear

  • blamo

    blamo

    Fantastic congrats on your feature Also Moons

  • JenLand

    JenLand

    Beautiful symbolism and painting! It really captures the ecstasy she feels…....niiice!!!

  • Ariadnestemple

    Ariadnestemple

    Beautiful, I like it very much. You are very talented! I also like the snake… reminding us she is a goddess, too.

  • MoonSpiral replied

    I am so glad you came and looked at it and I am really happy you like it!

  • PlanBee

    PlanBee

    so so lovely!!!

  • MoonSpiral replied

    Thankyou, that was very kind!!

  • BLYTHART

    BLYTHART

    I love your Klimt backgrounds.

  • MoonSpiral replied

    Thanks Dave, having fun with it…need to work on it some more!!!

  • BLYTHART

    BLYTHART

    Only you can say whether it needs more work, but it looks perfect to me.

  • SHRyan

    SHRyan

    I love love this, stunning,xxxSandy

  • Matt Bottos

    Matt Bottos

    Amazing work… Ariadne looks so taken by the kiss of Dionysus!

  • Anita Art

    Anita Art

    Your art so lovely and I love all the detail

  • doreen01

    doreen01

    Love this subject and you described the essence in this work!

  • MoonSpiral replied

    Thankyou so much Doreen!!

  • johnny hancen

    johnny hancen

    great painting

  • MoonSpiral replied

    I am so glad you like it, thankyou!!

  • Terry Hinkle

    Terry Hinkle

    How in the world did I miss this one Tammy. An exceptional work of art!

  • Petra Pinn

    Petra Pinn

    looooove this!!

  • Astrid Strahm

    Astrid Strahm

    your work is absolutely fantastic to me…, glad I foud your profile.. :-)

  • MoonSpiral replied

    You are very kind, and I am very late on this reply…thankyou Astrid!

  • F.A. Moore

    F.A. Moore

    Your description is almost as good as the painting. Love this, work, Tammy. Am a fan of Klimt’s style, but really did not know this. Very beautiful. Glad I saw your Tee today, so I could find this one and fav it.

  • MoonSpiral replied

    Yeah, and I just looked at your wonderful piece. I also noticed we both put a gold border around them…wierd, huh? Thankyou Frannie!

  • F.A. Moore

    F.A. Moore

    Just read your great comment there, and, yes, weird!
    So glad you took a look! Lol.

  • catherine walker

    catherine walker

    wonderful !!!

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