Title

Erisichthon wirdt vom Hunger gegepeinigt

Period

1550-1600;

Geographic

Thessaly

Ancient Greece

Description

The personification of Famine is illustrated leaning over the bed of a sleeping Erysichthon. She is depicted breathing into his mouth to infect him with hunger as punishment for desecrating a tree sacred to the goddess Ceres. Ceres had asked an Oread to fetch Famine for her, as Ceres is destined to never be able to meet Famine. A chariot drawn by snakes is illustrated flying in the background of the engraving, which is being led by the Oread in Ceres’ place. Once Erysichthon awakens, he becomes infected with famine, and eventually ends up eating his own flesh.

Image Creator

Virgil Solis (Engraver)

Type

Text

Woodcut Engraving

Identifier

mta:22844

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_22844_OBJ.jpg

Collection

Ovid's Metamorphoses

Subject

Famine

Erysichthon

Oread

Ceres

Roman Mythology

Greek Mythology

Gods

Goddesses