Pyramus und Thysbe

Title

Pyramus und Thysbe

Period

1550-1600;

Geographic

Ancient Greece

Babylon

Mesopotamia

Description

This engraving illustrates a story that is being told by one of the daughters of King Minyas in order to pass the time during a festival. The story being told is that of Pyramus and Thisbe, two lovers that share a tragic fate. Pyramus and Thisbe were star crossed lovers who tried to run away from their homes in order to be with each other. The pair had arranged to meet in the forest and while Thisbe was on her way to meet Pyramus, she had a close encounter with a lion. The lion stopped to drink at a fountain, as depicted in the engraving. To escape, Thisbe runs as fast as she can into a cave to seek safety. She is visible on the right-hand side of the illustration running away from the lion.

Image Creator

Virgil Solis (Engraver)

Type

Text

Woodcut Engraving

Identifier

mta:21409

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_21409_OBJ.jpg

Collection

Ovid's Metamorphoses

Subject

Roman Mythology

Greek Mythology

Lions

Pyramus

Thisbe