Thamiri Scitharum regina · Centre for Early Modern Visual Culture

Title: Thamiri Scitharum regina
Subject: Famous Women; Thamyris; Important Queens; King Cyrus; Important Women
Period: 1450-1500;
Geographic: Central Eurasia; Modern day Iran; Scythia
Description: This engraving depicts Thamyris, the queen of Scythia, placing the decapitated head of king Cyrus into a bucket with the help of her soldiers. Boccaccio explains that Cyrus had invaded Scythia looking for glory, and when he had killed Thamyris’ son, she exacted her revenge by killing his entire army. When Thamyris found Cyrus’ dead body, she took his head. Cyrus’ body is depicted below the bucket. There are other dead bodies among Cyrus which were his soldiers.
Image Creator: Anonymous (Engraver)
Type: Text; Woodcut Engraving
Identifier: mta:18174
Language: lat
Source Name: Iohannis Bocacij in librum de claris mulieribus
Parent Collection: 1487 Leuven; 1487 Leuven
Image: mta_18174_OBJ.png
Collection: Early Modern Women
Subject: Famous Women; Thamyris; Important Queens; King Cyrus; Important Women