Mythology, Zetus, Zethus, Zeus, Amphion, Dirke
"Zetus et Amphion qui Dircem ad Tauri cornua crinbus alligatam in fontem proiecerunt [...]
Gruesome mythological legend. The twin brothers, sons of Zeus and his lover Antipode, were exposed as babies. Grow up, they were enticed by evil-minded Dirke, to tie Antipode with a rope to a bull, in order to drag her to death. As the twins, unwitting that they were doing this to their mother, were about to perform as the were told by Dirke, Zeus intervened on behalf of his former lover and unveiled the truth to the twins (and to their mother, who did not know the grown twins). Dirke was tied to the bull instead of Antipode and dragged to death.
We are looking at the described scene, an anonymous copper etching after a marble sculpture standing in the Palazzo Farnese in Rome.
Published in "Antiquarum statuarum urbis Romae"
By Giovanni Battista Cavalieri (1525-1601)
Rome, 1562-1570
Very good condition.
Image: 22 x 13 cm (ca. 8.7 x 5.1")