The Abduction of Deianira by The Centaur Nessus at the Jardin des Tuileries, Paris

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In Greek mythology, Nessus was a famous centaur who met his end at the hands of Heracles, whose tainted blood ultimately proved fatal for Heracles as well. He was the son of Centauros and took part in the battle with the Lapiths. Later on, he worked as a ferryman on the river Euenos. Nessus is infamous for his role in the story of the Tunic of Nessus. After crossing Deianeira, Heracles' wife, over the river, he attempted to force himself upon her. Heracles noticed this from across the water and shot a Hydra-poisoned arrow into Nessus's chest as he lay dying, Nessus told Deianeira that his blood would guarantee Heracles' loyalty forever. Deianeira foolishly believed him and later, when her trust began to wane due to Iole, she spread the centaur's blood on a robe and gave it to her husband. Meanwhile, Deianeira accidentally spilled some of Nessus's blood onto the floor. She instantly recognized it as poison and sent a messenger to warn Heracles but it was too late. Heracles lay dying slowly and painfully as the robe burned his skin—either in actual flames or by the heat of poison. He died a noble death on a funeral pyre made of oak branches. After his passing, Heracles was taken to Mount Olympus by Zeus and welcomed among the gods for his heroic exploits. A similar theme appears in certain versions of the story of Medea. Guido Reni is responsible for creating this masterpiece. This object is part of "Scan The World", a non-profit initiative introduced by MyMiniFactory. Scan The World aims to create a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks and landmarks from across the globe for the public to access for free. Scan The World is an open-source community effort. If you have interesting items around you and would like to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to find out how you can help.