Title

Ein Schlang tödtet deß Cadmi Gefellen

Period

1550-1600;

Geographic

Ancient Greece

Thebes

Description

This engraving illustrates the companions of Cadmus, the founder of Thebes, getting killed by the serpent sacred to the god Mars. Cadmus had ordered his companions to find fresh water suitable for a sacrifice to the gods, and they happened to come across the cave illustrated in the engraving. The serpent lived in this cave and began killing the soldiers when they tried to take the water. There is a dead soldier depicted in the bottom left corner of the image. Another soldier is depicted being devoured by the snake. There are two men depicted on the right side of the image that managed to get away.

Image Creator

Virgil Solis (Engraver)

Type

Text

Woodcut Engraving

Identifier

mta:21170

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_21170_OBJ.jpg

Collection

Ovid's Metamorphoses

Subject

Gods

Mars

Cadmus

Serpents

Monsters

Roman Mythology

Greek Mythology