[Ulysses Threatens Circe with his Sword] · Centre for Early Modern Visual Culture

Title: [Ulysses Threatens Circe with his Sword]
Subject: Ulysses; Transformation; Roman Mythology; Greek Mythology; Magic; Important Women; Circe
Period: 1450-1500;
Geographic: Italy; Aetheum; Mount Circeo
Description: Ulysses is depicted on the right side of the illustration holding up his shield with his left hand and wielding his sword with his right. His ship can be seen floating in the water in the background of the image. He is in a fighting position as he threatens the woman in front of him. The woman’s name is Circe. She was known for her magic and skills with herbs and incantations. Circe is illustrated standing in a calm but fierce way, as she guards the animals behind her. Boccaccio explains that these animals are in fact the companions of Ulysses, and that Circe is known to transform those who land on her shores into animals. Ulysses is threatening Circe to save his companions from their transformed state.
Image Creator: Anonymous (Illuminator)
Type: Text; Illumination
Identifier: mta:11992
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_11992_OBJ.jpg
Collection: Early Modern Women
Subject: Ulysses; Transformation; Roman Mythology; Greek Mythology; Magic; Important Women; Circe