Cassandra der tochter Priami · Centre for Early Modern Visual Culture

Title: Cassandra der tochter Priami
Period: 1500-1550;
Geographic: Mycenae; Ancient Greece; Troy; Asia Minor
Description: This engraving depicts Cassandra, the daughter of King Priam of Troy on the left side of the engraving being murdered. Clytemnestra is on the right side of the engraving ordering her servant to commit the murder. Boccaccio explains that Cassandra was brought to Mycenae after the Trojan War as King Agamemnon’s concubine. Agamemnon’s wife Clytemnestra did not approve of this and ordered Cassandra to be killed. Cassandra is depicted with a rope around her neck with the servant pulling on the rope. Clytemnestra is depicted with a pleased look on her face as she watches Cassandra die while holding an unrolled scroll of parchment. The fallen city of Troy is depicted in the background of the engraving.
Image Creator: Joerg Breu (Engraver)
Type: Text; Woodcut Engraving
Identifier: mta:18318
Language: ger
Source Name: Ein schöne Cronica oder Hystoribuch von den fürnämlichsten Weybern [A beautiful chronicle or history book of reputable women]
Parent Collection: 1543 Stayner; 1543 Stayner
Image: mta_18318_OBJ.jpg
Collection: Early Modern Women
Subject: Cassandra; King Priam; The Trojan War; Clytemnestra; Important Women; Important Queens; Famous Women; Agamemnon; Greek Mythology