Von Semiamira · Centre for Early Modern Visual Culture · Center for Early Modern Visual Culture

Title: Von Semiamira
Subject: Important Women; Famous Women; Prostitution; Elagabalus; Soaemias
Period: 1500-1550;
Geographic: Italy; Ancient Rome
Description: This engraving depicts Soaemias, a Greek woman, sitting in the middle of a meeting of the Roman senate with her son, Emperor Elagabalus. They are depicted sitting in a circle, with everyone looking at Elagabalus, who is illustrated wearing a crown and holding a scepter. Elagabalus would not have become emperor without his mother’s help, so he granted her the ability to have authority and did nothing without her consent. This image is highly significant as she was, as Boccaccio explains, the first woman to have a seat among the Roman senate and discuss her opinions and views on what must be done. The left side of the engraving depicts Soaemias kissing a man to represent her life as a prostitute before becoming mother to the emperor.
Image Creator: Joerg Breu (Engraver)
Type: Text; Woodcut Engraving
Identifier: mta:26056
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_26056_OBJ.jpg
Collection: Early Modern Women
Subject: Important Women; Famous Women; Prostitution; Elagabalus; Soaemias