De Opi Saturni coniuge · Centre for Early Modern Visual Culture

Title: De Opi Saturni coniuge
Period: 1450-1500;
Geographic: Ancient Rome; Ancient Greece
Description: Ops, wife of the god Saturn, is depicted laying in a bed after just having given birth to her children, Jupiter, Neptune and Pluto. We know the woman lying in the bed is Ops as her name is engraved directly beside the bed, in the top right-hand corner. Jupiter, as a baby, is illustrated being carried away. His name is engraved just above the person carrying him. Boccaccio’s story explains that Saturn and Ops’ brother, Titan, planned to kill the children to avoid them growing up and defeating them. Saturn is illustrated with his hands outstretched towards baby Jupiter. His name is engraved on his leg. Titan is on the opposite side of Ops’ bed, similarly with his arm stretching out, facing Jupiter. His name is engraved horizontal to his body.
Image Creator: Anonymous (Engraver)
Type: Text; Woodcut Engraving
Identifier: mta:11904
Language: lat
Source Name: De Claris Mulieribus
Parent Collection: 1473 Ulm; 1473 Ulm
Image: mta_11904_OBJ.jpg
Collection: Early Modern Women
Subject: Goddesses; Infanticide; Roman Mythology; Gods