Landsknecht machten auß deß Drachen zenen

Title

Landsknecht machten auß deß Drachen zenen

Period

1550-1600;

Geographic

Ancient Greece

Thebes

Description

This engraving depicts Cadmus speaking with the goddess Pallas, also known as Minerva. Pallas is depicted flying above Cadmus in the clouds as she tells him to sow the teeth of the serpent that he had just slayed into the ground which will generate people. Cadmus obeys the goddess and proceeds to sow the teeth of the serpent. Subsequently, the sown teeth begin to produce fully armed soldiers as a result, which is illustrated happening behind Cadmus. These cultivated humans now become the newly formed population of Thebes.

Image Creator

Virgil Solis (Engraver)

Type

Text

Woodcut Engraving

Identifier

mta:21172

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_21172_OBJ.jpg

Collection

Ovid's Metamorphoses

Subject

Cadmus

Minerva

Pallas

Serpents

Roman Mythology

Greek Mythology

Gods

Goddesses

Agriculture