Marsepia und Lampedone den Künigin inn Amazonia · Centre for Early Modern Visual Culture

Title: Marsepia und Lampedone den Künigin inn Amazonia
Subject: Important Women; Famous Women; Martesia; Marpesia; Lampedo; Amazons; Greek Mythology
Period: 1500-1550;
Geographic: Themiscyra; Thermodon; Anatolia
Description: This engraving depicts the queens of the Amazons, Martesia (also called Marpesia) and Lampedo. The Amazons, as described by Boccaccio, were a group of widows who decided to take up arms and fight to avenge their husbands’ deaths. They began dedicating their lives to training in riding horse-back, archery, and other military skills. The Amazons elected Lampedo and Martesia to be their queens. Lampedo and Martesia are depicted on horseback in this engraving, while wearing crowns and holding weapons in their hands as they lead a group of Amazon women behind them. Boccaccio believes them to be praiseworthy as they were wonderful leaders.
Image Creator: Joerg Breu (Engraver)
Type: Text; Woodcut Engraving
Identifier: mta:18253
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
Image: mta_18253_OBJ.jpg