Cy sensuit histoire de flore ribaude des flours deessee appelle femme de zephire · Centre for Early Modern Visual Culture

Title: Cy sensuit histoire de flore ribaude des flours deessee appelle femme de zephire
Subject: Zephyrus; Prostitution; Gods; Goddesses; Roman Mythology; Important Women; Famous Women; Flora
Period: 1400-1450;
Geographic: Italy; Ancient Rome
Description: This illumination depicts the famous and wealthy prostitute Flora standing on the left side of the image. She is depicted looking to the right of the image where there are people engaging in sexual relations with one another, which symbolizes her life as a prostitute. There are also two figures playing musical instruments. Boccaccio explains that Flora used her wealth to have annual games held in her honour. He also explains that the Roman senate did not want a prostitute being honoured, so they fabricated a story which describes Flora being married to the wind, Zephyrus, who made her a goddess of flowers and trees.
Image Creator: Master of Boethius (Illuminator)
Type: Text; Illumination
Identifier: mta:20049
Language: frm
Source Name: Des cleres et nobles femmes, De claris mulieribus in an anonymous French translation
Parent Collection: 1410 Paris
Image: mta_20049_OBJ.jpg