Title

Widerbringung deß Menschlichen Geschlechts

Period

1550-1600;

Geographic

Ancient Greece

Description

After pleading to the goddess Themis for help in restoring the world, Deucalion and Pyrrha receive her help. Themis instructs Deucalion and Pyrrha through oracular speech that they must veil their heads, loosen their belts, and throw the bones of their mothers behind their heads. Pyrrha does not wish to follow these orders, however Deucalion understands that Themis meant that the bones of the mother are the rocks of the earth. As instructed, Deucalion and Pyrrha then leave the temple that is depicted on the left side of the image and begin to throw rocks over their shoulders. The rocks then begin to turn into humans. The rocks that Pyrrha throw turn into women, and the rocks thrown by Deucalion turn into men. This image illustrates Deucalion and Pyrrha re-creating humankind as the rocks on the ground are transforming to humans.

Image Creator

Virgil Solis (Engraver)

Type

Text

Woodcut Engraving

Identifier

mta:20952

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_20952_OBJ.jpg

Collection

Ovid's Metamorphoses

Subject

Recreation

Roman Mythology

Greek Mythology

Goddesses

Transformation

Themis

Deucalion

Pyrrha