Orpheus und sein harpssen werden in Fluß hebron geworffen

Title

Orpheus und sein harpssen werden in Fluß hebron geworffen

Period

1550-1600;

Geographic

Hebrus River

Ancient Greece

Lesbos

Mount Rhodope

Description

This engraving illustrates the moments that followed the death of Orpheus. The Maenads, who brutally murdered him, are illustrated throwing the head of Orpheus and his lyre into the river Hebrus. His body parts are depicted scattered across the ground near the Maenad as they had killed him by tearing him to pieces. Orpheus’ lyre continued playing down the river and his lifeless tongue continued singing. When his head and lyre appeared on the shores of Lesbos, a snake was nearby and tried to attack the severed head. Before the snake could attack, Phoebus appeared and turned the snake to stone. This is illustrated in the background of the engraving.

Image Creator

Virgil Solis (Engraver)

Type

Text

Woodcut Engraving

Identifier

mta:23204

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_23204_OBJ.jpg

Collection

Ovid's Metamorphoses

Subject

Orpheus

Phoebus

Gods

Goddesses

Roman Mythology

Greek Mythology

Maenads

Bacchantes