Der wunsch Mide

Title

Der wunsch Mide

Period

1550-1600;

Geographic

Ancient Greece

Phrygia

Description

Silenus, one of Bacchus’ companions, had one day gone missing. He had found himself captured by Phrygian men while he was stumbling around in a drunken stupor. This engraving illustrates the Phrygian men leading Silenus to King Midas. King Midas is depicted on the left side of the engraving holding his arms out towards Silenus because they were once old friends who had learned Bacchic rites together. Bacchus is illustrated at the top of the engraving sitting on a cloud looking down on the scene as he searches for Silenus. When Silenus was brought back to Bacchus, Bacchus had given Midas the choice of a gift for having taken care of Silenus. Midas chose to turn anything he touches into gold.

Image Creator

Virgil Solis (Engraver)

Type

Text

Woodcut Engraving

Identifier

mta:23205

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_23205_OBJ.jpg

Collection

Ovid's Metamorphoses

Subject

Bacchus

King Midas

Gods

Goddesses

Roman Mythology

Greek Mythology

Silenus