My Pythia

So finally it's finished. (well for now), it started as a digital painting study of the human body from reference photo: [link]
and ended up becoming another of my studies into Greek Mythology.

It was also a good experiment in how to achieve completely different textures in digital painting. The attempt at the liquid meta/skin is homage to Julie Bell - who does this amazing effect to such an unbelievably realistic degree, and is only equalled in doing so by husband Boris.

The original size is: 2120 x 3280 and for full size and to see datails go to: [link]

The story behind it:

The Pythia was the woman who sat on the tripod bowl over the crack in the earth in the Sacred Way in the temple of Apollo at Deiphi, where Apollo had slain The Python of Gaia. A priest was present and as each petitioners question was put to her she would take a sip from the cup of sacred water and when she pronouced she cut a branch from that bay tree that grew in the Sacred Way.
As the mouth piece for Apollo she never so much uttered words, but rather sounds that the officating priest had to translate at the best of their abilities into poetic hexameters and deliver the written verdict to the questioner.

Much of the painting, as is my way is symbolic.
The light, sun, fire are all symbols of Apollo, as are swans.
Apollo used to send snakes to lick the ears of those he favoured and gave them the gift of prophecy.
The snake is also one of the most universal symbols concering female fertility and safety, and the Python that Apollo slew was a child of the Earth Mother Gaia.

But it is always open to your own interpretations - I hope you like it.