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genius-of-apollo print

 The god Apollo is usually seen travelling in a quadriga, a chariot drawn by four horses, particularly in his aspect as Sol, the Sun god.   However, Romano departed from convention, upgrading the draft animals from mere horses to half lion/half eagle gryphons.Genius Apollo cameo 1
Genius Apollo cameo 2

 Genius Apollo2 cameoIt would not be unreasonable to also see the little figure with a lyre as the Genius of Apollo, even though he is not part of the triumphal tradition.

 

 

 genius-of-diana print

Like her genius, Diana, goddess of the hunt and the inhabitants of the forests, also appears at times in a stag-drawn chariot.

Genius Diana Renaissance

Genius Diana Cameo 3

Genius Diana Cameo 1

genius-of-mars printGenius of Mars cameo 1While the horses are similar to those who draw the War God in Raphael's Days of the Week series, unlike his Raphaelian counterpart, the Genius of Mars does not stand to govern his chargers.

 

 

 

Genius Ceres cameo 1Can there be any question that this is the Genius of Ceres/Demeter, even though the butterfly suggests either Psyche or the carver thinks it is Cupid?Ceres print
And of course, in a Renaissance revival presentation, the King of the Gods himself, Zeus/Jupiter/Jove, astride his eagle servant, thunderbolts in his pudgy fist, while his consort, Hera/Juno makes stately progress in a peacock-drawn chariot.

Genius Zeus RenaissanceGenius Hera 1Genius Hera 2

Although his name has become synonymous with the place of his abode, Hades (Pluto) is also an Olympian god.  Here his Genius is shown, bident over his shoulder, transporting a fallen hero across the River Styx.  The destination is presumably not the land of shades that awaits most of the departed but the fields of Elysium, reserved for the most valorous.  The other participants in the triumph are the Genius of Victory, indicated by the palm frond he carries, and the Genius of Fame, blowing a horn to trumpet the hero's approach.

Genius Hades 1A