Leda and the Swan

The story of Leda and the Swan is a tale from Greek mythology where Zeus, disguised as a swan, seduces or rapes Leda, a Spartan queen, who bears Helen and Polydeuces as children of Zeus and Castor and Clytemnestra as children of her husband Tyndareus. The degree of consent in the relationship varies across different artistic depictions, ranging from affectionate embracing to explicit lovemaking. The myth was rarely depicted in large-scale sculpture but appeared in small-scale sculptures, cameos, and engraved gems. It gained popularity in the Italian Renaissance, particularly due to the paradox that it was considered more acceptable to depict a woman with a swan than with a man. The theme remained a subject of controversy, with some depictions being heavily criticized, such as the erotic album I Modi, which was eventually destroyed.learn more on wikipedia