[Semiramis Throws Away Her Comb to Prepare for Battle] · Centre for Early Modern Visual Culture

Title: [Semiramis Throws Away Her Comb to Prepare for Battle]
Subject: Battle; Important Women; Important Queens; Semiramis
Period: 1450-1500;
Geographic: Mesopotamia; Assyria
Description: This illustration depicts Semiramis, queen of the Assyrians, throwing a hair comb onto the ground with her other hand touching her face. The comb is on illustrated on the ground by the window. There is a servant bowing to Semiramis in respect, while also presenting a helmet and armour to the queen. Boccaccio explains that she was combing her hair when she was told that Babylon (a kingdom which she ruled) had defected, and instantly threw away her comb to prepare for battle. This illustration depicts this honourable moment.
Image Creator: Anonymous (Illuminator)
Type: Text; Illumination
Identifier: mta:11973
Language: frm
Source Name: De la louenge et vertu des nobles et cleres dames [Of praise and virtue of the noble and clergy women]
Parent Collection: 1493 Paris; 1493 Paris
Image: mta_11973_OBJ.jpg
Collection: Early Modern Women
Subject: Battle; Important Women; Important Queens; Semiramis