The Origin of the Milky Way is a painting by the Italian late Renaissance master Jacopo Tintoretto, in the National Gallery, London, formerly in the Orleans Collection. It is an oil painting on canvas, and dates from ca.1575–1580.

According to myth, the infant Heracles was brought to Hera by his half-sister Athena, who later played an important role as a goddess of protection. Hera nursed Heracles out of pity, but he suckled so strongly that he caused Hera pain, and she pushed him away. Her milk sprayed across the heavens and there formed the Milky Way. With divine milk, Heracles acquired supernatural powers.

• The Origin of the Milky Way (Rubens)

• High definition image on Google art
• Tintoretto's The Origin of the Milky Way Archived 2014-10-07 at the Wayback Machine, Smarthistory, video (5:19)
• The Origin of the Milky Way (podcast with transcript: Miranda Hinkley & Karly Allen Archived 2018-10-07 at the Wayback Machine, National Gallery London February 2009)

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