The Four Disgracers

Hendrick Goltzius, The Four Disgracers (1588) 

Art historians quite rightly admire the way Goltzius employed perspective to depict the falling bodies of these four tragic figures. 

I believe any seeker of wisdom should also take heed of the greater moral lesson, that pride always goes before the fall. 

Tantalus, who revealed the secrets of the gods, and who attempted to test their omniscience by feeding them the flesh of his own son. 

Icarus, who refused his father's sound advice, and flew too close to the Sun. 

Phaethon, who presumed to know how to drive Helios' Chariot of the Sun. 

Ixion, who first rejected hospitality by murdering his father-in-law, and then abused the mercy of Zeus by trying to seduce Hera.