Zeus , wishing to immortalize his son Hercules born from his mortal mother Alcmene, took Hercules to Hera when she was asleep and covertly made him suckle his step-mother. Hera was startled when she awoke and milk shot from her breasts into the heavens thus forming the Milky Way galaxy. Galaxy comes from the Greek word, gala, meaning milk. Tintorettos The Origin of the Milky Way, ( about 1575 ) shows two creation myths, the formation of the Milky Way and the birth of milky white lilies. The milk which spurt out from the other breast fell down on earth formed milk white lilies .They were once present at the base of the painting, until a part of the original canvas was cut off.
Posted on: Thu, 18 Sep 2014 11:40:55 +0000