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

Title: Von Epichari
Subject: Epicharis; Important Women; Famous Women; Conspiracies; Torture; Emperor Nero
Period: 1500-1550;
Geographic: Ancient Rome; Italy
Description: This engraving depicts the freedwoman, Epicharis, being tortured for information regarding a conspiracy to kill Emperor Nero. Epicharis is depicted on the right side of the engraving with her hands inside some form of torturing device while a man with a hammer tortures her. Epicharis is also depicted on the left side of the image with her feet restrained in a stock. Epicharis heard the details of the conspiracy to assassinate Emperor Nero, and when she put her faith in the wrong person, they told Emperor Nero that she was involved in the plan. They tortured her many times; however, she did not reveal the names of anyone involved in the conspiracy. She ended up killing herself to avoid revealing the details to the emperor.
Image Creator: Joerg Breu (Engraver)
Type: Text; Woodcut Engraving
Identifier: mta:18409
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_18409_OBJ.jpg
Collection: Early Modern Women
Subject: Epicharis; Important Women; Famous Women; Conspiracies; Torture; Emperor Nero