Ceraste in Ochssen

Title

Ceraste in Ochssen

Period

1550-1600;

Geographic

Cyprus

Ancient Greece

Description

This engraving illustrates the human sacrifices that the Propoetides and Cerastae would perform on visitors to their city. There are men depicted surrounding the altar to Jupiter where the sacrifices would be conducted. One man is depicted decapitated with his body lying on the altar. The Propoetides were women from Cyprus and refused to believe that Venus was a goddess worth believing in. Angered by this and by their sacrifices, Venus (who is illustrated in the clouds in the top left corner of the engraving) punishes them by making them the first prostitutes and taking away their shame. Venus punishes the Cerastae, horned men from Cyprus, by transforming them into wild bullocks. They are illustrated in the background on the right side of the image.

Image Creator

Virgil Solis (Engraver)

Type

Text

Woodcut Engraving

Identifier

mta:23194

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_23194_OBJ.jpg

Collection

Ovid's Metamorphoses

Subject

Propoetides

Cerastae

Venus

Transformation

Goddesses

Gods

Roman Mythology

Greek Mythology