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Title
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De Penelope Ulixis coniuge
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Description
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This image depicts Penelope, the wife of Ulysses, weaving on the left-hand side of the engraving as she waits for her husband’s return from the Trojan War. We know that this is Penelope as her name is engraved horizontally adjacent to her body. Penelope had many suitors over the twenty 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 will wait for her husband to return until she is 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 returns home, he slays every suitor in his palace. Ulysses is depicted on the right side of the engraving, disguised in peasant clothing with a sword in his hand as he kills the suitors. His name is engraved above his head in order to identify him.
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Image Creator
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Anonymous (Engraver)
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Identifier
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mta:11948
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Source Name
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De Claris Mulieribus
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Image
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mta_11948_OBJ.png
mta_11948_OBJ.png