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Title
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Von Penelope Ylixis gemahel
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Description
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This image depicts Penelope, the wife of Ulysses, weaving on the right-hand side of the engraving as she waits for her husband to return from the Trojan War. We know that this is Penelope as her name is engraved above her head. Penelope had many suitors over the 20 years that she waited for Ulysses to return home; however, Boccaccio explains in his story that Penelope remained entirely faithful over the duration of his absence. Penelope told the suitors that she would continue to wait for her husband to return until she was done weaving a cloth, which is why she is depicted weaving in this engraving. Each night, she would undo all the weaving she had done that day so she could continue waiting for Ulysses. When Ulysses finally returned home, he had slain every suitor in his palace. Ulysses is depicted on the left side of the engraving, disguised in peasant clothing with a sword in his hand as he kills the suitors. His name is engraved behind his head in order to identify him.
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Image Creator
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Anonymous (Engraver)
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Identifier
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mta:17996
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Source Name
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Hyenach volget der kurcz syn von ettlichen frauen von denen johannes boccacius in latein beschriben hat und doctor heinricus stainhöwel geteütschet [Following the short stories of several women of which Giovanni Boccaccio wrote in Latin, and doctor Heinrich Steinhöwel translated]
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Image
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mta_17996_OBJ.png
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Subject
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Famous Women
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Important Queens
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Penelope
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Ulysses
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The Trojan War
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Greek Mythology
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Important Women
mta_17996_OBJ.png