Humans Biting Other Humans in Ancient Greek Mythology as Depicted in Five Works of Art

摘要

The evidence for human beings biting other humans is a relatively common occurrence in forensics. In contrast, it is a very rare subject in art. Ancient Greek history is s very rich in myths. In some of them a biting action takes place, either mentioned clearly in a literary source or as an invention of the artist. The aim of this study is to discuss five works of art, three ancient sculptures and two paintings, where this action is depicted. They span from the 5th century BCE to the 19th century. Although these sculptures and paintings are not the only that feature this activity, they are good examples. A thorough research may yield further examples.