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Title
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Penelope Ulixis gemahel
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Description
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This image depicts Penelope, the wife of Ulysses, weaving at her loom on the right side of the engraving as she waits for her husband to return from the Trojan War. Penelope had many suitors over the 20 years that she waited for Ulysses to return home; however, Boccaccio explains in his story that Penelope remained entirely faithful over the duration of his absence. Penelope told the suitors that she would continue to wait for her husband to return until she was done weaving a cloth, which is why she is depicted weaving in this engraving. Each night, she would undo all the weaving she had done that day so she could continue waiting for Ulysses. When Ulysses finally returned home, he had slain every suitor in his palace. Ulysses is depicted on the left side of the engraving, disguised in peasant clothing with a sword in his hand as he kills the suitors. One of his servants is illustrated piercing a man’s shoulder as he helps Ulysses kill the suitors.
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Image Creator
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Joerg Breu (Engraver)
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Identifier
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mta:18330
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Source Name
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Ein schöne Cronica oder Hystoribuch von den fürnämlichsten Weybern [A beautiful chronicle or history book of reputable women]
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Image
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mta_18330_OBJ.png
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Subject
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Penelope
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Ulysses
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Important Women
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Famous Women
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Important Queens
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Devotion
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The Trojan War
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Greek Mythology
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