Semiramide regina Assiriorum · Centre for Early Modern Visual Culture

Title: Semiramide regina Assiriorum
Period: 1450-1500;
Geographic: Mesopotamia; Assyria
Description: This engraving illustrates Queen Semiramis of the Assyrians lying in bed while having sexual relations with her son, Ninyas. There is a statue sitting on a platform on the right side of the engraving which appears to be a king. The statue is in fact Semiramis, who had a substantial military career and took part in many battles. The three women on the left side of the image represent the women who Semiramis feared. She was afraid that they would desire her son and take her away from him. Semiramis is said to have invented the chastity belt to avoid anyone having sexual relations with her son.
Image Creator: Anonymous (Engraver)
Type: Text; Woodcut Engraving
Identifier: mta:18124
Language: lat
Source Name: Iohannis Bocacij in librum de claris mulieribus
Parent Collection: 1487 Leuven; 1487 Leuven
Image: mta_18124_OBJ.jpg
Collection: Early Modern Women
Subject: Ninyas; Incest; Important Women; Famous Women; Important Queens; Semiramis