Von eritheria oder eriphila der sibillen · Centre for Early Modern Visual Culture

Title: Von eritheria oder eriphila der sibillen
Subject: Famous Women; Erythraea; Eriphila; Sibyls; Jesus Christ; Important Women
Period: 1450-1500;
Geographic: Mesopotamia; Troy; Babylon
Description: This engraving depicts the sibyl named Erythraea on the right side of the engraving with her fingers pointing to the man on the left side of the engraving. We know that this is the sibyl Erythraea as her name is engraved directly beside her body. The man she is pointing to is the son of God, Jesus. His name is engraved beside his head. Boccaccio explains that Erythraea was so intelligent that her prophecies were taken as Gospel rather than fortune-telling. She even prophesized the entire events from the life and death of Jesus, which is why he is depicted in this engraving. Boccaccio explains that Erythraea had also prophesized the fall of Troy, which is assumed to be the city in the background of the engraving. There is an unidentified man’s head engraved beside Jesus.
Image Creator: Anonymous (Engraver)
Type: Text; Woodcut Engraving
Identifier: mta:17973
Language: ger
Source Name: Hyenach volget der kurcz syn von ettlichen frauen von denen johannes boccacius in latein beschriben hat und doctor heinricus stainhöwel geteütschet [Following the short stories of several women of which Giovanni Boccaccio wrote in Latin, and doctor Heinrich Steinhöwel translated]
Parent Collection: 1473 Augsburg; 1473 Augsburg
Image: mta_17973_OBJ.png
Collection: Early Modern Women
Subject: Famous Women; Erythraea; Eriphila; Sibyls; Jesus Christ; Important Women

Media: mta_17973_OBJ.png