Sibille van Cumae 1606 - 1609

Raffaello Schiaminossi created this engraving of the Sibyl of Cumae sometime between 1587 and 1622. The Cumaean Sibyl was the priestess presiding over the Apollonian oracle at Cumae, a Greek colony located near Naples, Italy. In Renaissance Europe, figures from classical antiquity took on renewed cultural importance. The rediscovery of classical texts and artworks shaped philosophical, artistic, and political thought. The image of the Sibyl, with her prophetic powers, would have been particularly interesting in a time of great political and religious upheaval. The printing press—a relatively new technology at this time—allowed artists like Schiaminossi to disseminate such images widely. As historians, we can interpret this image as part of a broader cultural movement. The study of the classical world was facilitated by wealthy patrons like the Medici family. The art market also played a key role in promoting certain types of images. So, to understand this print fully, we might explore the history of Renaissance classicism and the rise of print culture.