Athalia der Künigin zu Jerusalem · Centre for Early Modern Visual Culture

Title: Athalia der Künigin zu Jerusalem
Subject: Athaliah; Important Women; Famous Women; Important Queens
Period: 1500-1550;
Geographic: Jerusalem; Israel
Description: This engraving depicts Athaliah, queen of Jerusalem, executing the descendants of David. Athaliah is depicted on the right side of the engraving holding a scepter and pointing towards a man. Boccaccio explains that Athaliah’s father was the king of Israel, and her husband was the king of Jerusalem. When her husband died, and her son (who succeeded his father) died, she seized power and slaughtered the descendants of David to avoid anyone taking her power and throne. There is a man depicted with a sword about to execute a man, under Athaliah’s orders. There are other people illustrated on the ground who had already been slain. There is a person on the left side of the image carrying a child named Jehoash. This child is Athaliah’s grandson who escaped her executions.
Image Creator: Joerg Breu (Engraver)
Type: Text; Woodcut Engraving
Identifier: mta:18358
Language: ger
Source Name: Ein schöne Cronica oder Hystoribuch von den fürnämlichsten Weybern [A beautiful chronicle or history book of reputable women]
Parent Collection: 1543 Stayner; 1543 Stayner
Image: mta_18358_OBJ.jpg
Collection: Early Modern Women
Subject: Athaliah; Important Women; Famous Women; Important Queens