Siracusanorum Regis Interitus (The Murder of the King of the Syracusans) from T. Livius Patavinus historicus duobus libris auctus, plate 86 from Woodcuts from Books of the XVI Century c. 1520 - 1937

This woodcut, "Siracusanorum Regis Interitus" (The Murder of the King of the Syracusans) by Zoan Andrea, is a dramatic depiction of a historical event from the Second Punic War. The artwork is from a book of woodcuts illustrating the writings of the Roman historian Livy, and it depicts the assassination of the king of Syracuse, Hiero II. The scene is set in an urban environment, with city walls and buildings visible in the background. The figures in the foreground are engaged in a violent struggle, with swords drawn. This artwork showcases the detail and emotional intensity typical of the sixteenth-century woodcuts produced during the Italian Renaissance.