The Education of Jupiter

Besides numerous paintings – both mythological and religious – and cartoons for tapestries, Jordaens left an oeuvre of more than 400 drawings. This particular work was probably painted around 1645. Jupiter, or Zeus, as he is known in Greek mythology, was the son of Cronus and Rhea. Cronus devoured his children at birth, but Rhea was able to save Jupiter by hiding him on Crete, where he was raised by nymphs. He was suckled by the goat Amalthea, depicted above right. Jupiter is depicted here with a lyre, an instrument that probably made its way into Greece from Asia Minor. The lyre and the associated cithara, which is bigger and more robust, were used chiefly to accompany singing or poetry recitation.