De Argia: mujer del rey pollinice · Centre for Early Modern Visual Culture

Title: De Argia: mujer del rey pollinice
Subject: Famous Women; Argia; Polynices; Eteocles; War; Greek Mythology; Important Women
Period: 1450-1500;
Geographic: Thebes; Argos; Ancient Greece
Description: Argia, the daughter of King Adrastus of Argos is depicted on the right side of the engraving holding the body of her husband, king Polynices of Thebes. We know that these figures are Argia and Polynices as the creator engraved their names above their bodies. Boccaccio explains that Polynices had fought in a war against his brother Eteocles and died on the battlefield. Argia snuck herself onto the battlefield after the war to see her husband’s body. She is depicted holding his lifeless body and kissing him on the lips. Behind Polynices and Argia are the other men who had fought and died in this war.
Image Creator: Anonymous (Engraver)
Type: Text; Woodcut Engraving
Identifier: mta:14837
Language: spa
Source Name: De Las Mujeres Ilustres [On Famous Women]
Parent Collection: 1494 Mujeres Ilustres; 1494 Mujeres Ilustres
Image: mta_14837_OBJ.png
Collection: Early Modern Women
Subject: Famous Women; Argia; Polynices; Eteocles; War; Greek Mythology; Important Women