In the western world the ancient Greeks were the first to give us a written articulate description of these gods and goddesses that transcend time. They imbued their immortals with traits that incorporated the best of the animal aspects with conspicuously human frailties. There is no confusion in the ancient Greek world between animals and humans: these immortals were clearly anthropomorphic and their animal aspects a source of additional strength and cunning. They had the power to destroy humans at will. They also had the power to self-destruct. Today, cloned monsters and bio-engineered super humans are part of our contemporary myths. Modern Medicine, the Atomic Age, and now The Genome Project have all provided new twists to ancient fears and explanations: science fiction- that terrifying meld of science and myth. As we envision cloned creatures, of humans made perfect, of mongrelized half-human beasts patched together with DNA infusions, a whole new yet oddly familiar tableau opens in the realm of science fiction. The Archeology of the Body addresses this ongoing blend of fear and wonder of our natural world. The portraits are the formulas for ancient Greek gods and goddesses. Simply insert the proper tissue samples, splice the DNA helix and voila! All this, of course, is virtualized through the computer. Eureka! We’ve found the map!

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