Link to an image of this page [R4v p264]
In temerarios.
The reckless
EMBLEMA LVI.
Aspicis aurigam currus Phaethonta[1] paterni,
Ignivomos ausum flectere Solis equos:
Maxima qui postquàm terris incendia sparsit,
Est temerè insesso lapsus ab axe miser.
Sic plerique rotis fortunae ad sidera Reges
Evecti, ambitio quos iuvenilis agit;
Post magnam humani generis clademque suamque,
Cunctorum poenas denique dant scelerum.
You see here Phaethon, driving his father's chariot, and daring to guide the fire-breathing steeds of the Sun. After spreading great conflagrations over the earth, the wretched boy fell from the car he had so rashly mounted. - Even so, the majority of kings are borne up to heaven on the wheels of Fortune, driven by youth's ambition. After they have brought great disaster on the human race and themselves, they finally pay the penalty for all their crimes.
1. Phaethon, the son of Apollo, the sun-god. The myth referred to here is told in Ovid, Metamorphoses 1.748 - 2.349. Both Phaethon and Icarus (see [A21a104]) are types of those who aim too high and do not recognise their proper sphere.
To view the commentary for this emblem, press the link to the facsimile image of this page above, and thereafter use the 'Next facsimile' and 'Previous facsimile' links to navigate through the commentary.
View emblem in Mason Tung: Variorum Edition of Alciato. (PDF)
Related Emblems
Show related emblemsHint: You can set whether related emblems are displayed by default on the preferences page
Iconclass Keywords
Relating to the image:
- accident with two-wheeled vehicle, drawn by two animals [46C14922] Search | Browse Iconclass
- armour [45C22] Search | Browse Iconclass
- barefoot [41D2339] Search | Browse Iconclass
- clouds [26A] Search | Browse Iconclass
- fall of Phaethon; he is struck by a thunderbolt of Jupiter (+ variant) [92B39117(+0)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- falling through the air [31A2764] Search | Browse Iconclass
- rearing (horse in motion) [46C13185] Search | Browse Iconclass
- sun represented as face, wheel, etc. [24A6] Search | Browse Iconclass
- two-wheeled vehicle drawn by two animals [46C1422] Search | Browse Iconclass
- youth, adolescent [31D12] Search | Browse Iconclass
Relating to the text:
- Audacity, Temerity; 'Audacia' (Ripa) [54A82] Search | Browse Iconclass
- falling [31A2731] Search | Browse Iconclass
- king [44B113] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Phaethon drives the chariot of the sun; the earth is threatened with conflagration [92B39116] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Punishment; 'Castigo', 'Pena', 'Punitione' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [57BB13(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Rashness, Imprudence, Recklessness (+ emblematical representation of concept) [52AA21(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- ruler and his subjects [44B127] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Turn of Fate, Wheel of Fortune [54F121] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Youth, Adolescence, 'Iuventus'; 'Adolescenza', 'Gioventù' (Ripa) [31D120] Search | Browse Iconclass
Hint: You can turn translations and name underlining on or off using the preferences page.
