Alcmena gebiert Herculem

Title

Alcmena gebiert Herculem

Period

1550-1600;

Geographic

Boeotia

Ancient Greece

Thebes

Description

This engraving illustrates Alcmena surrounded by her handmaidens as she gives birth to the hero Hercules. Due to her jealousy, Juno schemed with Lucina, the goddess of childbirth, to prevent Alcmena from having a smooth delivery. Lucina is illustrated in the background of the engraving, sitting down between an archway with her hands locked together. One of Alcmena’s loyal handmaidens, Galanthis, is depicted speaking to Lucina. She had sensed that Juno was up to something, so she went over to Lucina and ordered her to congratulate Alcmena on the birth. Lucina was outraged at the order and stood up in defiance, but this ended up easing the birth and Hercules came into the world. Lucina was angry that she was tricked by Galanthis, so she transformed her into a weasel. The weasel can be seen on the far right-hand side of the engraving below a woman’s feet.

Image Creator

Virgil Solis (Engraver)

Type

Text

Woodcut Engraving

Identifier

mta:22881

Language

ger

Source Name

P. Ouidij Nasonis, deß Sinnreichen und hochverstendigen Poeten, Metamorphoses oder Verwandlung, mit schönen figuren gezieret, auch kurzen Argumenten und außlegungen erkläret, und in Teutsche Reymen gebracht, durch Johann Spreng von Augspurg [Publius Ovidius Naso, the Ingenious and Highly Understandable Poet, Metamorphoses or Transformations, Adorned with Beautiful Images, and also descriptions of Short Arguments and Explanations, Brought into German Rhymes by Johann Spreng of Augsburg]

Parent Collection

1564 Frankfurt Spreng

Image

mta_22881_OBJ.jpg

Collection

Ovid's Metamorphoses

Subject

Galanthis

Alcmena

Juno

Hercules

Gods

Goddesses

Roman Mythology

Greek Mythology

Lucina