
Ficta religio.
False religion.
Emblema vi.
Regali residens meretrix pulcherrima sella,[1]
Purpureo insignem gestat honore peplum.
Omnibus & latices pleno è cratere propinat:
At circum cubitans[2] ebria turba iacet.
Sic Babylona notant: quae gentes illice forma,
Et ficta stolidas religione capit.
A beauteous harlot reclining on a royal seat wears a robe resplendent with purple, the badge of honour. From a full bowl she passes round the cup of drink to all, and round about the drunken crowd sprawls in stupor. Thus they indicate Babylon, who with her alluring beauty takes in the doltish nations with false religion.

Ex D. Ioannis Apocalypsi ducta est haec fictae reli-
gionis descriptio: ex qua colligimus in statu reli-
gionis iam olim fuisse, multósque[3] adhuc esse, qui
suis praestigiis, falsáque doctrina imperitos in-
escant, errorísque poculo iis imponunt, quo tan-
quam facti ebrii, mentisque impotes, a subdola
capti meretrice, purissimos divinae sapientiae fon-
tes aspernantur, adeóque insanientes. séque & alios
miserrimè in praecipitium coniiciunt.

Feinte religion.
LA Courtisane belle, avec royal atour,
Portant un long manteau de pourpre, est à l’entour
Presentant du breuvage enclos dedans sa coupe[4]
A gens mal-advisez & estourdie trouppe:
Ainsi de Babylon est le pourtrait induit,
Qui souz fort beau pretexte un grand monde seduit.
Ceste description de la Religion fein-
te est tiree du livre de l’Apocalypse de
Sainct Jean: par laquelle nous apprenons
qu’au fait de la religion il y a eu des hom-
mes au passé, comme encor aujourdhuy, qui
par leurs impostures & faulses doctrines ap-
pastent les ignorans, & les abbreuvent de la
coupe d’erreur, dont estans faits yvres, &
hors d’entendement, comme deceuz par les
piperies de la paillarde, ont en desdain les
pures fontaines de la sapience divine, telle-
ment, qu’estans rendus insensez & hors de
raison, ils mettent à perdition & eux & beau-
coup d’autres.
Related Emblems
Iconclass Keywords
Relating to the image:
- adult man (+ four persons) [31D14(+74)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- adult woman [31D15] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm stretched forward - AA - both arms or hands (+ saluting, showing reverence) [31AA2512(+911)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm stretched sidewards (+ holding something) [31A2513(+933)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- beard [31A534] Search | Browse Iconclass
- both legs bent (+ lying) [31A2612(+56)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- clouds [26A] Search | Browse Iconclass
- crown (symbol of sovereignty) [44B191] Search | Browse Iconclass
- dragon [25FF411(+956)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- dragon (+ head and face) [25FF411(+41)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- dress, gown (+ men's clothes) [41D211(+81)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- dress, gown (+ women's clothes) [41D211(+82)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- drunkenness [31B52] Search | Browse Iconclass
- giving drink [41C121] Search | Browse Iconclass
- kneeling figure (+ saluting, showing reverence) [31A233(+911)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- looking downwards [31B6212] Search | Browse Iconclass
- looking upwards (+ saluting, showing reverence) [31B6211(+911)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- mug, beaker, goblet [41C322] Search | Browse Iconclass
- plants and herbs [25G4] Search | Browse Iconclass
- prospect of city, town panorama, silhouette of [25I12] Search | Browse Iconclass
- riding on animal other than horse, ass, or mule (+ sitting on animal with both legs on one side, riding side-saddle) [46C132(+82)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- shoes, sandals (+ women's clothes) [41D2332(+82)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- sitting on an elevation - AA - female human figure [31AA2352] Search | Browse Iconclass
- sitting with legs bent, side by side - AA - female human figure (+ sitting) [31AA26122(+53)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- the scarlet woman, the whore of Babylon; she is usually sitting on a scarlet beast with seven heads and ten horns [73G491] Search | Browse Iconclass
- whore, prostitute [33C52] Search | Browse Iconclass
Relating to the text:
- colours, pigments, and paints: purple [22C4(PURPLE)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- courtesan, hetaera [33C521] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Idolatry; 'Idololatria', 'Religione finta' (Ripa) [11N41] Search | Browse Iconclass
- wine ~ alcoholic drinks [41C711] Search | Browse Iconclass
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