De Clitemestra: mujer del rey agamenon · Centre for Early Modern Visual Culture

Title: De Clitemestra: mujer del rey agamenon
Period: 1450-1500;
Geographic: Ancient Greece; Mycenae
Description: Clytemnestra, the queen of Mycenae, is depicted on the far-right side of the engraving with a crown on her head. We know that this is Clytemnestra as her name is engraved beside her head. In front of Clytemnestra is the person she has been having an affair with, Aegisthus. His name is engraved beside his leg. Aegisthus and Clytemnestra, as explained by Boccaccio, had conjured a plan to kill Clytemnestra’s husband, king Agamemnon, in order to gain control of Mycenae. Clytemnestra gave Agamemnon a piece of clothing that had no neck hole. As he struggled with the garment, the adulterer Aegisthus pierced Agamemnon with a sword (this is depicted on the right-hand side of the engraving). Orestes, the son of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, sought to avenge his father’s death. He is depicted on the left side of the engraving, killing both his mother and Aegisthus. Orestes’ name is engraved behind his back.
Image Creator: Anonymous (Engraver)
Type: Text; Woodcut Engraving
Identifier: mta:16660
Language: spa
Source Name: De Las Mujeres Ilustres [On Famous Women]
Parent Collection: 1494 Mujeres Ilustres; 1494 Mujeres Ilustres
Image: mta_16660_OBJ.png
Collection: Early Modern Women
Subject: Important Queens; Clytemnestra; Aegisthus; Agamemnon; Infidelity; Important Women; Famous Women