Caroline Lawrence

So, you know, he's essentially been buried.

Great question. And we know from Ovid that he likes the Minotaur. And I love looking at the vases and the frescoes. And we've got some wonderful frescoes from Pompeii of Theseus and the Minotaur. So yes, he's still very, very popular. Obviously, monsters go in and out of fashion. What really interests me is what we've done with him in the last... 100, 200 years about pop culture.

Great question. And we know from Ovid that he likes the Minotaur. And I love looking at the vases and the frescoes. And we've got some wonderful frescoes from Pompeii of Theseus and the Minotaur. So yes, he's still very, very popular. Obviously, monsters go in and out of fashion. What really interests me is what we've done with him in the last... 100, 200 years about pop culture.

Great question. And we know from Ovid that he likes the Minotaur. And I love looking at the vases and the frescoes. And we've got some wonderful frescoes from Pompeii of Theseus and the Minotaur. So yes, he's still very, very popular. Obviously, monsters go in and out of fashion. What really interests me is what we've done with him in the last... 100, 200 years about pop culture.

Do you mind if I talk about that a little bit?

Do you mind if I talk about that a little bit?

Do you mind if I talk about that a little bit?

Well, let's talk about one of the most famous paintings of the Minotaur, which is by, is it Watts?

Well, let's talk about one of the most famous paintings of the Minotaur, which is by, is it Watts?

Well, let's talk about one of the most famous paintings of the Minotaur, which is by, is it Watts?

That's him, GF, George Frederick Watts.

That's him, GF, George Frederick Watts.

That's him, GF, George Frederick Watts.

So this is really fascinating because there was a bill trying to be put through Parliament about raising the act of consent for children and worrying about child prostitution, which was a real problem in Victorian period.

So this is really fascinating because there was a bill trying to be put through Parliament about raising the act of consent for children and worrying about child prostitution, which was a real problem in Victorian period.

So this is really fascinating because there was a bill trying to be put through Parliament about raising the act of consent for children and worrying about child prostitution, which was a real problem in Victorian period.

And it was so distressing that this Watts, who was one of the most popular artists of his time, he read the article, went to sleep, and the next morning he woke up and painted this amazing painting of the Minotaur in one morning.

And it was so distressing that this Watts, who was one of the most popular artists of his time, he read the article, went to sleep, and the next morning he woke up and painted this amazing painting of the Minotaur in one morning.

And it was so distressing that this Watts, who was one of the most popular artists of his time, he read the article, went to sleep, and the next morning he woke up and painted this amazing painting of the Minotaur in one morning.

And it shows the minotaur from the back. He's slightly turned away from us. He's leaning on a balustrade. He's not underground. He's looking out at the sea. And when you first look at it, he looks quite lonely and sympathetic. One scholar has commented his face looks almost dog-like, and he's got long eyelashes. But then if you look more closely, it's kind of creepy.