De Medusa filia phorci · Centre for Early Modern Visual Culture

Title: De Medusa filia phorci
Subject: Perseus; Neptune; Gods; Goddesses; Roman Mythology; Greek Mythology; Medusa
Period: 1450-1500;
Geographic: Ancient Greece
Description: Medusa is illustrated on the left-hand side of the engraving embracing the god Neptune. The creator engraved Medusa and Neptune’s names beside their bodies to identify them. Medusa is depicted in her human form in this engraving before Minerva transformed her into a monster. Boccaccio explains that Minerva transforms Medusa into a monster because she was angry that she had sexual relations with Neptune inside one of her temples. Boccaccio also explains that Medusa ends up giving birth to a Pegasus, which is engraved just behind Medusa on the left-hand side of the engraving. The hero Perseus is depicted riding his Pegasus on the right-hand side of the engraving as he is on his way to conquer Medusa’s kingdom. Perseus’ name is engraved to the right of his helmet.
Image Creator: Anonymous (Engraver)
Type: Text; Woodcut Engraving
Identifier: mta:11919
Language: lat
Source Name: De Claris Mulieribus
Parent Collection: 1473 Ulm; 1473 Ulm
Image: mta_11919_OBJ.jpg
Collection: Early Modern Women
Subject: Perseus; Neptune; Gods; Goddesses; Roman Mythology; Greek Mythology; Medusa