[Polyxena Being Executed by Neoptolemus] · Centre for Early Modern Visual Culture

Title: [Polyxena Being Executed by Neoptolemus]
Subject: Polyxena; Neoptolemus; The Trojan War; Greek Mythology; Achilles; Important Women
Period: 1450-1500;
Geographic: Asia Minor; Troy
Description: Polyxena, the daughter of king Priam of Troy, is depicted kneeling on the tomb of Achilles in the background of the illustration with her hands together in prayer as she looks down. There is a man holding a sword up to Polyxena’s neck, ready to behead her. The man is Neoptolemus, the son of Achilles. He is the one beheading Polyxena as he believes her to be responsible for his father’s death. Polyxena accepted her fate in an honourable way as she leans her head over in preparation for the sword.
Image Creator: Anonymous (Illuminator)
Type: Text; Illumination
Identifier: mta:11991
Language: frm
Source Name: De la louenge et vertu des nobles et cleres dames [Of praise and virtue of the noble and clergy women]
Parent Collection: 1493 Paris
Image: mta_11991_OBJ.jpg