Auffopfferung Iphigenie

Title

Auffopfferung Iphigenie

Period

1550-1600;

Geographic

Aulis

Boeotia

Ancient Greece

Description

This image illustrates Agamemnon, the king of Mycenae, sacrificing his daughter Iphigenia to the goddess Diana. The Greeks, on their way to Troy, had to stop in the port of Aulis due to a storm. Agamemnon used his daughter as the ultimate sacrifice in the hopes that Diana would subside the storm and offer safe passage to Troy. The storm is illustrated on the left side of the engraving with waves crashing up against the shore and on the ships. Before burning Iphigenia alive, Diana saves her and replaces her with a female deer. The female deer is visible in the center of the engraving, laying on the stone table with the flames engulfing her. The Greeks are depicted surrounding and watching the sacrifice as smoke fills the air. Diana and Iphigenia are illustrated at the top of the engraving, with Diana looking towards Iphigenia as she points her towards safety.

Image Creator

Virgil Solis (Engraver)

Type

Text

Woodcut Engraving

Identifier

mta:23220

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_23220_OBJ.jpg

Collection

Ovid's Metamorphoses

Subject

Agamemnon

Iphigenia

Diana

Transformation

Sacrifice

Gods

Goddesses

Roman Mythology

Greek Mythology