De Yside regina et dea egiption · Centre for Early Modern Visual Culture

Title: De Yside regina et dea egiption
Subject: Goddesses; Isis; Heifers; Argus; Roman Mythology; Greek Mythology; Gods
Period: 1450-1500;
Geographic: Ancient Egypt; Ancient Greece
Description: This engraving illustrates the story of Isis and Jupiter. Jupiter is depicted in the center of the engraving with his arms wrapped around Isis as he shows his affection for her. We know that these figures are Jupiter and Isis as the creator engraved their names directly above their head. Isis’ name reads Yo, as she is also known by this title. Boccaccio explains that Jupiter had transformed her into a cow and gave her as a gift to Juno in order to hide his crime of raping her. Mercury had saved Isis as he killed Argus, Isis’ 100 eyed guardian. Mercury is on the right-hand side of the engraving holding a staff in his left hand, standing above the body of Argus. Mercury’s name is engraved beside his head, and Argus’ name is engraved just below his own arm. Isis is visible in the background of the engraving sitting on a ship, as she had sailed to Egypt after being transformed back into her human form. The sail on the ship has a heifer emblem to signify her transformation into a cow.
Image Creator: Anonymous (Engraver)
Type: Text; Woodcut Engraving
Identifier: mta:11909
Language: lat
Source Name: De Claris Mulieribus
Parent Collection: 1473 Ulm
Image: mta_11909_OBJ.jpg