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NEC QUESTIONI
quidem cedendum.
Do not yield even to torture
Cecropia effictam quam cernis in arce leaenam,
Harmodii an nescis hospes, amica fuit?
Sic animum placuit monstrare viraginis acrem,
More ferae, nomen vel quia tale fuit.[1]
Quod fidibus contorta suo non prodidit ullum,
Indicio, elinguem reddidit Iphicrates.[2]
This lioness that you see represented on the Athenian citadel was Harmodius’s lover - stranger, you must know the story. This was how they decided to proclaim the brave woman’s fierce spirit, by representing her as a lioness. Besides, her name was Lioness too. Tortured on the rack, she betrayed no-one by her evidence, and so Iphicrates represented the beast without a tongue.
1. Later editions read tulit.
2. Harmodius and Aristogeiton conspired to kill Hipparchus, the brother of the Athenian tyrant Hippias. Harmodius was killed, Aristogeiton arrested and tortured. Also tortured was Leaena (‘Lioness’) a courtesan, beloved of Harmodius, as she too was suspected of being in the conspiracy. She however revealed nothing. After the fall of Hippias, the two men were treated as tyrannicides and bronze statues were erected in their honour (509 BC). To avoid appearing to honour a courtesan, the Athenians had Leaena represented by Iphicrates (or Amphicrates) as a lioness without a tongue, indicating both her name and the reason for remembering her. See Pliny, Natural History 34.19.72; Plutarch, De garrulitate 505E.
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- tongue [31A22141] Search | Browse Iconclass
- torture [44G330] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Taciturnity; 'Secretezza', 'Secretezza overo Taciturnità ' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [52DD3(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- names of cities and villages (with NAME) [61E(ATHENS)] Search | Browse Iconclass
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EMBLEMA XI.
Abstinentia.
Integrity
Marmoreae in tumulis, una stat parte columnae
Urceus, ex alia cernere malluvium est
Ius haec forma monet dictum sine sordibus esse
Defunctum puras atque habuisse manus.
On a tomb, at one side of the marble pillar, stands a water-jug, at the other you can see a basin. This design tells us that justice was pronounced without corruption, and that the deceased kept his hands clean.
Link to an image of this page [C6r f9r]
Das XI.
Abbruch.
Ein Krug gemacht auß Marmelstein
Steht wie ein Seul auff dem Eck ein
Deß Steinern Tisch, auffm andern Eck
Aber findstu ston ein Handbeck
Diß bild ermannt das gschriben Recht
Sol rein seyn und on wandel schlecht
Und deß Richters Hend sollen seyn
Von allen miet und gaben rein.
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- towel [31A5463] Search | Browse Iconclass
- grave, tomb [4.20E+32] Search | Browse Iconclass
- jug and basin; wash-basin [41A2415] Search | Browse Iconclass
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