Book V.16. Consulting the Delphi Oracle to expiate Alban prodigy {Primae Decadis Liber Quintus p. XLV} 1493

Curator: This woodcut, currently held at the Harvard Art Museums, is titled Book V.16. Consulting the Delphi Oracle to expiate Alban prodigy. Editor: It has such an archaic feel! The stark black lines against the white create a sense of drama, like a play unfolding. Curator: Indeed! It's an illustration from a printed book, likely depicting a scene from classical history or mythology. The oracle at Delphi held immense social and political power. People went there for advice on everything from personal matters to affairs of state. Editor: Considering the power dynamics at play, I am interested in the figure elevated on a pedestal. Who are they meant to represent? What societal structures enabled their rise? Curator: That's precisely the kind of questioning we need to explore! Thank you! Editor: My pleasure. It really makes you think about who gets to speak and who is forced to listen.