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A scorned woman and righteous warrior
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A scorned woman and righteous warrior
A scorned woman and righteous warrior. It could be Bellerophon and Sthenoboea, wife of Proetus, or Peleus and Astydameia, wife of King Acastus of Iolcus. Copperplate engraving by Tommaso Piroli from his Antiquities of Herculaneum (Antichita di Ercolano), Rome, 1789
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Media ID 23151822
© Florilegius/Mary Evans
Antichità Antiquities Bellerophon Ercolano Fresco Herculaneum Mythology Piroli Pompeii Righteous Tommaso Warrior Peleus
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EDITORS COMMENTS
In this copperplate engraving by Tommaso Piroli, we witness a poignant scene from ancient Greek mythology, depicting a scorned woman and a righteous warrior. The image, taken from Piroli's "Antiquities of Herculaneum" published in Rome in 1789, could represent various mythological tales of love, betrayal, and heroism. One possible interpretation of this scene is that of Bellerophon and Sthenoboea. Bellerophon, a legendary hero, was sent by King Proetus of Argos to kill the Chimera, a monstrous beast with the head of a lion, the body of a goat, and the tail of a serpent. After successfully slaying the beast, Bellerophon returned to Argos, only to be falsely accused of attempting to seduce Proetus' wife, Sthenoboea. To protect his honor, Bellerophon was ordered to leave Argos and was given Sthenoboea as a wife to be sent to King Poseidon's brother, King Tithonus of Crete. However, Sthenoboea, filled with scorn and anger, plotted against Bellerophon, and he was eventually killed. Another interpretation could be that of Peleus and Astydameia. Peleus, a mortal hero, was in love with the goddess Thetis but was rejected due to her divine nature. He then married Astydameia, the wife of King Acastus of Iolcus. After their marriage, Acastus, suspicious of Peleus, sent him on a quest to retrieve the legendary horse, Pegasus, as a test of his worthiness. While Peleus was away, Astydameia was seduced by Acastus, leading to Peleus' return and a confrontation between the two men. This engraving captures the raw emotions of betrayal and righteous indignation, as the scorned woman looks on with contempt and the warrior, filled with determination, prepares for battle. The classical fresco-like art and intricate details of the engraving transport us back to ancient Greece, allowing us to immerse ourselves in the mythological tales of love, honor, and heroism.
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