Hypermnestra der künigin in Griechen · Centre for Early Modern Visual Culture

Title: Hypermnestra der künigin in Griechen
Subject: Hypermnestra; Linus; Lynceus; Murder; Important Women; Famous Women; Greek Legend
Period: 1500-1550;
Geographic: The Argives; Ancient Greece
Description: Hypermnestra and her husband, Linus (also known as Lynceus), are illustrated on the edge of the bed on the right side of the engraving. Hypermnestra is depicted with her arm warpped around Linus’ chest. Boccaccio explains that a prophecy told Hypermnestra’s father one of his nephews would kill him. To avoid the prophecy from happening, he married all his daughters to his nephews and instructed them to kill their new grooms. Hypermnestra, however, fell in love with her cousin Linus. Hypermnestra instructs him to leave to avoid her father and sisters from killing him. One of her sisters is depicted lying in the bed behind her, already having killed her husband, along with the other husbands that have been murdered. Boccaccio believes that Hypermnestra is praiseworthy for her devotion to her husband.
Image Creator: Joerg Breu (Engraver)
Type: Text; Woodcut Engraving
Identifier: mta:18267
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_18267_OBJ.jpg
Collection: Early Modern Women
Subject: Hypermnestra; Linus; Lynceus; Murder; Important Women; Famous Women; Greek Legend

Media: mta_18267_OBJ.jpg