Title

Cygnus hieres Son/in einen Schwanen

Period

1550-1600;

Geographic

Ancient Greece

Description

This engraving represents the story of Cycnus, his mother Hyrie, and his companion Phylius. Cycnus had given his companion Phylius tasks to overcome, one of them requiring him to tame a bull. Phylius and the bull are illustrated on the right side of the image. Phylius had completed the task, but he refused to hand the bull over due to Cycnus’ arrogance towards him. When Phylius refuses to hand over the bull, Cycnus attempts suicide by jumping from a cliff, as illustrated at the top of the engraving. No harm, however, befalls Cycnus as he transforms into a swan and flies away. His mother, Hyrie, does not know that Cycnus survived the fall, and her tears from weeping turn her into a lake. Hyrie is illustrated in the bottom left corner sitting by the water.

Image Creator

Virgil Solis (Engraver)

Type

Text

Woodcut Engraving

Identifier

mta:22748

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_22748_OBJ.jpg

Collection

Ovid's Metamorphoses

Subject

Cycnus

Hyrie

Phylius

Roman Mythology

Greek Mythology

Transformation