Milo was famed as a wrestler in the 6th century B.C.E. He came from the Greek city of Croton in southern Italy and he won many Olympic victories during his long athletic career. He was also famed for feats of strength, such as carrying a bull around on his shoulders for a day before slaughtering the bull and eating the whole thing himself.
The painting depicts the legendary death of Milo - he supposedly attempted to tear a tree in two with his bare hands, but his hands got stuck; he was then attacked by wild beasts and killed, being unable to escape.
You can also find more myths and legends for the week of May 6-12 here. For more information and links to the actual javascript code, see the Myths & Legends Widget Reference Page.
