Caenis die Jungffrauw zu einem Mann · Centre for Early Modern Visual Culture

Title: Caenis die Jungffrauw zu einem Mann
Period: 1550-1600;
Geographic: Thessaly; Ancient Greece
Description: The woman depicted in this engraving is Caenis, a young virgin from Thessaly who had been the prize of many suitors. She was walking along the beach when the sea-god Neptune noticed her beauty and took Caenis by force. Neptune’s trident is illustrated by his feet and his seahorse drawn chariot is visible on the left side of the engraving in the water. After raping Caenis, Neptune grants her one wish. She asked to never be harmed or suffer any pain like that again, so Neptune transformed her into a man named Caeneus who would be protected from all wounds.
Image Creator: Virgil Solis (Engraver)
Type: Text; Woodcut Engraving
Identifier: mta:23223
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_23223_OBJ.jpg
Collection: Ovid's Metamorphoses
Subject: Caenis; Caeneus; Neptune; Rape; Transformation; Gods; Roman Mythology; Greek Mythology

Media: mta_23223_OBJ.jpg