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The centaur Chiron teaching Achilles to play
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The centaur Chiron teaching Achilles to play
The centaur Chiron teaching Achilles to play the Cetera or lyre.. The centaur Chiron, wearing an animal skin and a wreath of flowers (Centaurus-), teaching the boy Achilles to play the Cetera or lyre. Below are two vignettes of ministers of Bacchus, one with a torch and one with a ribbon and tyrse. Discovered in Resina in 1739. Copperplate engraved by Tommaso Piroli from his own Antichita di Ercolano (Antiquities of Herculaneum), Rome, 1789
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Media ID 14196851
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Achilles Antichitadiercolano Antiquitiesofherculaneum Centaur Chiron Lyre Pompeii Tommasopiroli
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This image showcases the legendary centaur Chiron, a wise and noble figure in Greek mythology, imparting the art of music to the young warrior prince Achilles. The scene, discovered in the ancient Roman town of Resina in 1739, is depicted in a stunning copperplate engraving by Tommaso Piroli, as part of his Antichita di Ercolano (Antiquities of Herculaneum) collection published in Rome in 1789. Chiron, clad in an animal skin and crowned with a wreath of flowers, sits cross-legged with Achilles at his feet. The boy, with an earnest expression, focuses intently on the intricacies of the Cetera or lyre that Chiron holds in his hands. The centaur's expert guidance is evident as he positions the boy's fingers on the strings. Two vignettes of ministers of Bacchus, the Roman god of wine, theater, and fertility, grace the borders of the print. One minister holds a torch, symbolizing the illumination of the arts, while the other carries a ribbon and thyrsus, an attribute associated with the ecstatic rituals of Bacchic worship. The discovery of this ancient artwork is a testament to the enduring influence of Greek mythology on Western culture. The image of Chiron teaching Achilles the art of music is a powerful reminder of the transformative power of knowledge and the importance of mentorship in the lives of young people. This beautiful engraving is a treasure of classical history, inviting us to explore the rich tapestry of stories and traditions that have shaped our collective imagination.
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