Meleager und Atalanta

Title

Meleager und Atalanta

Period

1550-1600;

Geographic

Sicily

Italy

Description

Meleager is depicted holding the severed head of the boar he had just slain, as well as sitting on its dead body. The boar was sent by the goddess Diana to terrorize the city of Sicily as revenge for not being honoured in sacrifice by the citizens. Meleager is a local hero who was tasked, along with other heroes, to slay the boar. Atlanta, a famous huntress was also one of the people tasked with killing the boar, and although she did not kill it, she did hit its ear with an arrow. For her efforts, Meleager decides to share the honour and credit with Atlanta by giving her the severed head of the boar.

Image Creator

Virgil Solis (Engraver)

Type

Text

Woodcut Engraving

Identifier

mta:22837

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_22837_OBJ.jpg

Collection

Ovid's Metamorphoses

Subject

Meleager

Diana

Atlanta

Gods

Goddesses

Roman Mythology

Greek Mythology

Boars