Plate 125: Aurora Asking Jupiter to Honor Memnon (Aurora a Iove Memnoni, mortis honorem petit), from Ovid's 'Metamorphoses' 1606

Antonio Tempesta created this engraving, "Aurora Asking Jupiter to Honor Memnon," in the late 16th or early 17th century, drawing inspiration from Ovid's "Metamorphoses." Tempesta, living in a time of strict social hierarchies, engages with themes of power and supplication. Here, Aurora, the goddess of dawn, is seen pleading with Jupiter to grant immortality to her son Memnon. Consider the emotional weight of a mother's plea in a world where lineage and honor dictated one's fate. What does it mean for Aurora, a goddess, to seek favor from Jupiter, the king of the gods? The image evokes questions about the currency of power and the negotiation of status within the mythological realm. How might Tempesta be mirroring or commenting on the social dynamics of his own time through this mythological narrative? This small print invites us to reflect on the timeless themes of mortality, honor, and the lengths to which we go to protect those we love.