Pyrami und Thisbes end

Title

Pyrami und Thisbes end

Period

1550-1600;

Geographic

Ancient Greece

Babylon

Mesopotamia

Description

This engraving illustrates the story of Pyramus and Thisbe, two star-crossed lovers who share a tragic fate. Pyramus is illustrated lying dead on the ground of the forest, as he had just stabbed himself to death. He had done this because he saw a lioness in the location where he was meant to meet with Thisbe (the lioness is illustrated in the background of the engraving). He thought the lioness must have killed her. Grieved at the thought of Thisbe’s death, Pyramus kills himself. Thisbe, however, was not dead. She had hidden from the lioness in a cave, and when the lioness had run off, Thisbe emerges to see the body of her beloved Pyramus. Pained by the death of Pyramus, she takes his sword and impales herself, as illustrated in the image. The blood from their wounds spilled onto the berries on the tree behind them, which from that point on are known as blackberries.

Image Creator

Virgil Solis (Engraver)

Type

Text

Woodcut Engraving

Identifier

mta:21410

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_21410_OBJ.jpg

Collection

Ovid's Metamorphoses

Subject

Roman Mythology

Greek Mythology

Pyramus

Thisbe

Lions

Lovers