Circe Invidiosa

Glaucus, a Greek mortal turned sea-god, fell in love with the nymph, Scylla. He asked Circe for a potion to make Scylla fall in love with him, but Circe fell in love with him instead. Glaucus held fast to his love for Sylla, so Circe poisoned the waters where Scylla bathed, turning her into a monster with twelve feet and six heads.

The Priestess at Delphi

The Oracle at Delphi did exist and was consulted. The Priestess of Delphi was the single most influential person in all of ancient Greece. Actually, most influential people, as there were at least two and usually three at any given time. She was Apollo's human lover, moaning and crying out when he came to her, and it was at these times that she received her visions and made her inquiries. The communal visits were infrequent, with the god only appearing on the seventh day of each month.

Collier finished The Priestess of Delphi in 1891. At that time, all that was known about the Oracle at Delphi was from Classic writing. Then in 1892, French archeologists, following the descriptions in the ancient writing, unearthed the temple. It was several more decades before they resolved the sources of the intoxicating smoke and fumes that we see in Collier's painting.

Many scholars believe that, before Apollo claimed a mystical residence at Delphi, it was a center of feminine spiritual authority, a site of worship for Gaia and possibly later of Themis, a Titaness and early goddess of 'divine justice.' The Priestess of Delphi was a succession of women chosen from among local women who were beyond childbearing age.

Fire and Water Pricing and Specifications

Title: Fire and Water

Indoor Panels: six tiles (3 tiles per panel)

Tile: Ceramic

Size: Each tile is 8 x 6 inches. The entire planel is 8 inches x 18 inches.

Thickness: 3/8 inch (1 cm)

Price: $585 each