Ino and Melicertes at The Palace of Versailles, France

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This marble sculpture featuring Ino and her son Melicertes was created between 1686-1691 by French sculptor Pierre Granier. According to Greek mythology, Melicertes is the son of Boeotian prince Athamas and Ino, daughter of Cadmus. Ino fled from her husband, who had been driven mad by Hera because Ino had taken care of the infant Dionysus, and she threw herself and Melicertes into the sea from a high rock between Megara and Corinth. Both were transformed into marine deities: Ino as Leucothea, noted by Homer, and Melicertes as Palaemon. The body of Palaemon was carried by a dolphin to the Isthmus of Corinth and deposited under a pine tree. His uncle Sisyphus discovered it there and had it moved to Corinth. By order of the Nereids, he established the Isthmian Games and sacrifices in honor of Palaemon. This object is part of "Scan The World". Scan the World is a non-profit initiative launched by MyMiniFactory, which aims to create a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks, and landmarks from around the globe for public access at no cost. Scan the World is an open-source community effort. If you have interesting items nearby and would like to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to find out how you can help.