Cellini's Perseus In part because of the spoof Cellini pulled on his sometimes rival Bandinelli. Cellini placed the Perseus directly where Bandinelli's hercules was looking, effectively "up-staging" the hercules and Cacus, while "turning them into stone". Great fun. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! .................... ok, You didn't expect a sculptor to choose a painting, did you? also: Zeus feared the gorgon sisters who were older than the titans, and especially feared that they might birth a new breed of gods-----so, he cursed them--that anyone gazing upon them would turn to stone. Finally, someone who made the Medusa rather attractive. (Go Benvenuto Cellini)