Alexander the Great commanding that the work of Homer be placed in the tomb of Achilles 1495 - 1505

This anonymous Italian engraving from 1495-1505 depicts Alexander the Great giving orders for the works of Homer to be placed in the tomb of Achilles. The artwork, housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, showcases the historical figure of Alexander in a scene that reflects the reverence for the works of Homer, a Greek poet, in the Renaissance. The engraving's detailed rendering of the figures and the dramatic composition of the scene add to its historical and artistic significance. The scene is a popular subject in art, as it portrays the cultural impact of the ancient world.