Argus und Mercurius

Title

Argus und Mercurius

Period

1550-1600;

Geographic

Ancient Greece

Description

This image illustrates the messenger god, Mercury, sitting on a rock on the right side of the image playing his reed pipe. It is apparent that this is Mercury as he is commonly illustrated with his winged helmet. Mercury had been sent by order of Jupiter to kill Argus, the one who watched over Io. Io was the daughter of the river god Inachus, and after Jupiter raped her, he transformed her into a cow in order to protect her from the wrath of his jealous wife Juno. Juno ordered the giant Argus to watch over the transformed Io after suspecting what Jupiter had done. Jupiter wished to release Io from her transformed state, so he sent Mercury to kill the watchful Argus. Mercury is depicted playing his reed pipe in order to put Argus to sleep with the music it produces. He successfully does this, as Argus is illustrated sleeping against a tree with his head leaning on his left hand.

Image Creator

Virgil Solis (Engraver)

Type

Text

Woodcut Engraving

Identifier

mta:20958

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_20958_OBJ.jpg

Collection

Ovid's Metamorphoses

Subject

Goddesses

Jupiter

Juno

Transformation

Roman Mythology

Argus

Mercury

Gods