Section: MORS (Death). View all emblems in this section.
Link to an image of this page [L6r p171]
Opulenti haereditas.
The rich man’s legacy
Patroclum falsis rapiunt hinc Troës in armis.
Hinc socii, atque omnis turba Pelasga vetat.
Obtinet exuvias Hector, Graecique cadaver.[1]
Haec fabella agitur, cum vir optimus [=opimus]
obit.
Maxima rixa oritur, tandem sed transigit haeres,
Et corvis aliquid, vulturiisque sinit.[2]
On that side the Trojans are carrying off Patroclus in his deceptive armour, on this, his co-fighters and all the Greek host try to stop them. Hector obtains the spoils, the Greeks the body. This story is played out when a rich man dies. A great quarrelling arises, but eventually the heir brings the argument to an end and leaves something for crows and vultures.
1. For the death of Patroclus, see Homer, Iliad, 16.784ff. He borrowed Achilles’ armour to fight the Trojans when Achilles refused, and was killed by Hector, who took the armour.
2. ‘Vulture’ was a term used to refer to people who hang round rich persons, hoping for a legacy See Erasmus, Adagia, 614 (Si vultur es, cadaver exspecta).
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- city-gate [25I1461] Search | Browse Iconclass
- clouds [26A] Search | Browse Iconclass
- the corpse [3.10E+04] Search | Browse Iconclass
- leaning backward [31A2322] Search | Browse Iconclass
- lying on the back with uplifted upper part of the body [31A2361] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm raised upward (+ holding something) [31A2511(+933)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm stretched sidewards (+ holding something) [31A2513(+933)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm or hand held in front of the body (+ holding something) [31A2516(+933)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- walking [31A2711] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm held downwards - AA - both arms or hands (+ holding something) [31AA2515(+933)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- gear for legs and feet (+ men's clothes) [41D233(+81)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- helved weapons, polearms (for striking, hacking, thrusting): lance [45C14(LANCE)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- armour [45C22] Search | Browse Iconclass
- helmet [45C221] Search | Browse Iconclass
- (military) camp with tents [45C41] Search | Browse Iconclass
- (military) flags and standards [45D1] Search | Browse Iconclass
- (military) attack [45H1] Search | Browse Iconclass
- small groups in single combat in place of battle [45H342] Search | Browse Iconclass
- putting out of action by killing [45H53] Search | Browse Iconclass
- suspension of hostilities in order to bury the dead (+ during the battle) [45I52(+1)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- carrying a person on one's back (+ variant) [46C1271(+0)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- the fight over the body of Patroclus [94F821] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Menelaus carries Patroclus' body from the battle-field [94F822] Search | Browse Iconclass
Relating to the text:
- Europeans (with NAME) [32B311(GREEKS)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- disguise [41D28] Search | Browse Iconclass
- inheritance [42E5310] Search | Browse Iconclass
- armour [45C22] Search | Browse Iconclass
- suspension of hostilities in order to bury the dead (+ during the battle) [45I52(+1)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- the rich [46A160] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Impartiality (+ emblematical representation of concept) [59C22(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- names of cities and villages (with NAME) [61E(TROY)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- the Trojan war (94C - 94H) [94C] Search | Browse Iconclass
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