Von Thamyri · Centre for Early Modern Visual Culture · Center for Early Modern Visual Culture

Title: Von Thamyri
Subject: Thamyris; King Cyrus; Important Women; Famous Women; Important Queens
Period: 1500-1550;
Geographic: Scythia; Central Eurasia; Modern day Iran
Description: This engraving depicts Thamyris, the queen of Scythia, placing the decapitated head of King Cyrus into a bag with the help of her soldiers. Boccaccio explains that Cyrus had invaded Scythia looking for glory, and when he had killed Thamyris’ son, she exacted her revenge by killing his entire army. When Thamyris found Cyrus’ dead body, she took his head. Cyrus’ body is depicted below the bucket. There are other dead bodies among Cyrus which were his soldiers.
Image Creator: Joerg Breu (Engraver)
Type: Text; Woodcut Engraving
Identifier: mta:18341
Language: ger
Source Name: Ein schöne Cronica oder Hystoribuch von den fürnämlichsten Weybern [A beautiful chronicle or history book of reputable women]
Parent Collection: 1543 Stayner; 1543 Stayner
Image: mta_18341_OBJ.png
Collection: Early Modern Women
Subject: Thamyris; King Cyrus; Important Women; Famous Women; Important Queens