Proteus & Aristaeus - Versailles, France - Statues of Religious Figures on Waymarking.com

This 1714 marble sculpture depicts Aristaeus binding Proteus to a boulder. Aristaeus wears a laurel but both figures are naked but for strategically placed flowing cloths. Two strange looking animals (dogs?, seals?, monkeys? lions?) are set at the feet of the figures.
The artist is Sebastien Slodtz.
The title of the piece uses the French names of its subjects: "Protee et Aristee".

Wikipedia's article on Proteus (visit link) has a passage that explains the action in this statue:
"According to Virgil in the fourth Georgic, at one time the bees of Aristaeus, son of Apollo, all died of a disease. Aristaeus went to his mother, Cyrene, for help; she told him that Proteus could tell him how to prevent another such disaster, but would do so only if compelled. Aristaeus had to seize Proteus and hold him, no matter what he would change into. Aristeus did so, and Proteus eventually gave up and told him to sacrifice 12 animals to the gods, leave the corpses in the place of sacrifice, and return three days later. When Aristaeus returned after the three days he found in one of the carcasses a swarm of bees, which he took to his apiary. The bees were never again troubled by disease."

Associated Religion(s): Greek Mythology Statue Location: in the Gardens of the Versailles Palace Entrance Fee: 0 Artist: Sebastien Slodtz Website: [Web Link]

Visit Instructions:
Take a picture of the statue. A waymarker and/or GPSr is not required to be in the image but it doesn't hurt.

Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log   09/26/2018 Tromel visited it 10/01/2012 MAJU38 visited it 08/07/2012 Chasing Blue Sky visited it 05/03/2012 jcb94 visited it 10/17/2011 Metro2 visited it

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