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Title
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Ceyx und Halcyone in Vögel
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Description
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This engraving illustrates Morpheus, the son of the God of Sleep, appearing to Alcyone in a dream in the form of King Ceyx. Unbeknownst to Alcyone, her husband King Ceyx of Thessaly had died in a shipwreck. She constantly prayed to the goddess Juno for her husband’s safe return, however, Juno wanted to reveal to Alcyone that he was in fact dead. Juno sent her messenger, Iris, to the God of Sleep and told him to appear to Alcyone in a dream to reveal her husband’s death. The God of Sleep sent his son Morpheus to handle the task as he can shape shift into any human being. As depicted in the engraving, Morpheus took the form of a dead King Ceyx, and appeared to Alcyone to reveal his death. Alcyone is illustrated pointing at him as she is surprised by his appearance and grieved to know that he is dead. The background of the engraving illustrates Alcyone after she had woken from her dream. She walked along the shores and came across the washed-up body of King Ceyx on the beach. She is depicted with her arms in the air, about to throw herself onto the body of her husband.They were both then transformed into birds.
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Image Creator
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Virgil Solis (Engraver)
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Identifier
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mta:23218
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Source Name
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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]
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Image
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mta_23218_OBJ.jpg
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Subject
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Iris
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Morpheus
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Ceyx
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Alcyone
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Juno
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God of Sleep
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Gods
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Goddesses
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Roman Mythology
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Greek Mythology
mta_23218_OBJ.jpg