The Omega Shawl

Europa and the Bull

The Omega Shawl
Here the fullness of Europa's shawl tells us that she is not entirely unwilling to be abducted by the white bull.
An ancient Greek and Roman dancing maenad, a frenzied follower of the wine god Dionysus, twirls a scarf shaped like the Greek letter omega behind her back. Here is a dancer on the walls of the House of Mysteries in Pompeii. All throughout subsequent Italian art, the omega shawl motif seems to symbolize that the bearer is in the throes of emotional passion. Here the shape of Venus's scarf signals to Mantegna's audiences that the love goddess is ecstatic about her union with Mars.


Dancing Maenad
Pompeiian Dancer
Venus

In the eighteenth century Tiepolo painted elaborate clouds of swirling fabric around his women. A close look at his Baroque ceiling frescoes reveals that the shapes of his draperies give information about the emotional state of his subjects. There is a complex language here waiting to be deciphered.


     Tiepolo Fresco Detail

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The Omega Shawl Here the fullness of Europa's shawl tells us that she is not entirely unwilling to be abducted by the white bull. An ancient Greek and Roman dancing maenad, a frenzied follower of the wine god Dionysus, twirls a scarf shaped like the Greek letter omega behind her back. Here is a dancer on the walls of the House of Mysteries in Pompeii. All throughout subsequent Italian art, the omega shawl motif seems to symbolize that the bearer is in the throes of emotional passion. Here the shape of Venus's scarf signals to Mantegna's audiences that the love goddess is ecstatic about her union with Mars.
Dancing Maenad	Pompeiian Dancer	Venus
In the eighteenth century Tiepolo painted elaborate clouds of swirling fabric around his women. A close look at his Baroque ceiling frescoes reveals that the shapes of his draperies give information about the emotional state of his subjects. There is a complex language here waiting to be deciphered.
	Tiepolo Fresco Detail

Would you like to return to the Main Page?
Would you like to meet some more Venetian housewives?	Would you like to see some more Laundry?	Would you like to find out more about laundry, cloth, and draped fabric in Venetian art?