De Almathea seu Deiphebe Sibilla · Centre for Early Modern Visual Culture

Title: De Almathea seu Deiphebe Sibilla
Subject: Tarquinius Priscus; Women; Sibyls; Amalthea
Period: 1450-1500;
Geographic: Italy; Ancient Rome
Description: This engraving depicts the sibyl, Amalthea, burning three books in a fire in front of Tarquinius Priscus. We know that these figures are indeed Amalthea and Tarquinius Priscus as their names are engraved beside and above their bodies to identify them. Amalthea, as explained by Boccaccio, brought nine books for Tarquinius Priscus, and when he failed to pay her the full price, she burned three books at a time until he paid her. The word Libri is engraved below the fire, which translates to books in English.
Image Creator: Anonymous (Engraver)
Type: Text; Woodcut Engraving
Identifier: mta:11924
Language: lat
Source Name: De Claris Mulieribus
Parent Collection: 1473 Ulm
Image: mta_11924_OBJ.jpg