Sophonisba regina Nunidie · Centre for Early Modern Visual Culture

Title: Sophonisba regina Nunidie
Subject: Devotion; Important Women; Famous Women; Important Queens; Sophonisba; Masinissa
Period: 1450-1500;
Geographic: North Africa; Numidia; Modern day Algeria
Description: Masinissa, the king of Numidia, is depicted on the right side of the engraving speaking with a man named Laelius. Laelius is depicted pointing at Masinissa as he reproaches him for marrying a captive of the Romans. Not able to disobey Laelius, Masinissa ordered a servant to give Sophonisba, his wife, a cup of diluted poison. Sophonisba is depicted on the left side of the engraving willingly drinking the poison. The servant in front of Sophonisba looks astonished at how willingly she drank the poison.
Image Creator: Anonymous (Engraver)
Type: Text; Woodcut Engraving
Identifier: mta:18213
Language: lat
Source Name: Iohannis Bocacij in librum de claris mulieribus
Parent Collection: 1487 Leuven
Image: mta_18213_OBJ.png