Lyctus und sein Haußfrauw Telethusa

Title

Lyctus und sein Haußfrauw Telethusa

Period

1550-1600;

Geographic

Crete

Ancient Greece

Description

This engraving illustrates a pregnant Telethusa sleeping in her bed. Telethusa is worried about giving birth as her husband, Ligdus, vowed to put the child to death if it is to be a girl. Many Egyptian deities appeared to Telethusa in a dream, including Isis, Anubis, Apis, Harpocrates and Osiris. The deities are depicted surrounding the bed of Telethusa in the engraving. Isis speaks to Telethusa and tells her that no matter the outcome of the gender, she must raise the baby. Isis promises that everything will be okay, and no harm will come to the child after birth.

Image Creator

Virgil Solis (Engraver)

Type

Text

Woodcut Engraving

Identifier

mta:22977

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_22977_OBJ.jpg

Collection

Ovid's Metamorphoses

Subject

Telethusa

Ligdus

Isis

Egyptian Mythology

Greek Mythology

Roman Mythology

Childbirth

Gods

Goddesses