When the Romans decided to rebrand ancient Greek goddesses... The original painting of Aphrodite Anadyomene by Apelles has been lost to time, but this fresco by an unknown Roman artist found at the Casa della Venere in conchiglia (Pompeii) also shows the birth of Aphrodite/Venus. (before 79 CE). Image via Wikimedia...

Facinating stories of human to tree transformations! Daphne is turned into a laurel tree. Sculpture by Gian Lorenzo Bernini created between 1622 and 1625. Image via Wikimedia Commons. DISCOVER The ancient Greek gods were petty and vengeful, regularly getting involved in the lives of humans and using their magical powers to bestow reward or punishment as they pleased. A common thread across many ancient Greek myths is the habit of Gods turning humans into trees either in an act...

All you need to know about killer birds with bronze beaks and detachable metal feathers! Illustration of Heracles shooting Stympalian birds. Edward Maxence, Héraclès détruit les oiseaux de Stymphale (c1893). Image via Wikimedia Commons. DISCOVER Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Is it…. Well actually, it WAS a bird. The Stymphalian were highly unusual-looking mythical birds, made famous by their appearance in the Labours of Heracles myth. Their origin story suggests that they got their name...