This etching is part of the series of illustrated Mythology by Salvador Dali, He drew  very closely upon the symbolism of the ancient Greek legends. Using what he called ‘hasard objectif” (the meaningful manifestation of chance), he would often start with an abstract smudge, created in a single motion, and he developed his theme from this sign of Fate, like the Puthia of Delphi who interpreted the Oracle from the smoke coming out of the cave. This is particularly noticeable in his etchings entitled: “Oedipus and Sphinx,” “Theseus and Minotaurs,” Jupiter,” “Pegasus” and “The Milky Way.”

When Dali worked on these plates, he experimented with all kinds of unusual tools like chisels, nails or wheels for the “Birth of Venus,” even a real octopus immersed in acid, which left its imprint on his “Medusa.”