Theseus

Artista: Josep Maria Subirachs

Title: «Theseus»

Año: 1981

Media: stone from Ullldecona

Edition: unique piece

Size: 59 x 55 x 15 cm

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This sculpture made of stone from Ulldecona refers to the myth of Theseus, Subirachs uses Greek mythology in many of his works.

Apparently, the composition seems to recall the Christian legend of Saint George, however, Subirachs has used this fable to offer us his particular version of the myth of Theseus.

Theseus was the founding hero of Athens. In Greek mythology, Theseus entered the labyrinth to kill the minotaur on the island of Crete. To do so, he had the collaboration of Princess Ariadne. Ariadne’s help consisted of giving Theseus a ball of thread that he tied to the door of the labyrinth.

In the sculpture we see Theseus killing the minotaur. We can also find the thread that leads him to the balustrade, where he meets Ariadna again.

The androgynous balustrade is one of the iconographic elements used by Subirachs in a good number of works.