Anmeissen werden zu Leuten

Title

Anmeissen werden zu Leuten

Period

1550-1600;

Geographic

Aegina

Athens

Ancient Greece

Description

This engraving illustrates the god Jupiter appearing from the clouds, gesturing to his son on Earth, Aeacus of Aegina. Aeacus had survived through a plague which wiped out his population, and he had asked Jupiter for help to rebuild his city. Jupiter lead him to an oak-tree which had food-gathering ants all over it. Suddenly, the ants began to transform into humans, as illustrated in the engraving at the foot of the tree. The humans that transformed from the ants go on to create the new population of Aegina and are thenceforth known as the Myrmidons.

Image Creator

Virgil Solis (Engraver)

Type

Text

Woodcut Engraving

Identifier

mta:22824

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_22824_OBJ.jpg

Collection

Ovid's Metamorphoses

Subject

Transformation

Roman Mythology

Greek Mythology

Myrmidons

Jupiter

Aeacus