#stradanus

Jan van der Straet known as Stradanus - Achilles and the daughters of Lycomedes (c.1570s) When Thetis, Achilles’ mother, has learned that her son will die if he goes to Troy, she decided to hide him on the island of Skyros, at the court of King Lycomedes. She dressed him as a girl and put among Lycomedes’ own daughters.

The Greeks, who needed Achilles for the war, send Odysseus to find the guy. Odysseus arrived to the island disguised as a merchant and presented lots of items for women: jewellery, fabrics, and mirrors. But also put some weapons in his tray.

The real girls rushed for the typical feminine trinkets; Achilles instinctively grabbed the sword, revealing his true identity:

Jan Van der Straet – Scientist of the Day

Jan Van der Straet, a Flemish artist also known as Stradanus, died Nov. 2, 1605; his date of birth is unknown.