Erythraean Sibyl

The Erythraean Sibyl is one of the by Varro, a Roman historian of the 1st century BC, of Lactantius distinguished ten Sibyls, each provided with a geographic epithet.

Below it is seen as the visionary of Erythrai on the Ionian coast, which is said to have foretold the fall of Troy. In addition to the Tiburtinischen Sibylle she was the most famous pagan seer during the Middle Ages scholars and the people. You were attributed to " ancient " warnings of a " world court " ( Apocalypse ).

The site of the oracle of the Erythraean Sibyl was ancient legend, Erythrai in Asia Minor. Besides previously in Tacitus is found, however, in other extant sources of Greek and Roman antiquity hardly a direct indication of a Sibylle special about this place.

Following Augustine, the Christian Middle Ages understood the Erythraean Sibyl as a prophet equivalent to the pagan proclaimer of a divine judgment ( Apocalypse ). This view was based in particular on a to-find in this church teacher of the fourth century "quote " with this Sibylle ascribed apocalyptic words. In the Renaissance, however, more likely, their generally accepted God's prophetic expectation was emphasized.

In Gothic art the Erythraean Sibyl is often presented in accordance with the Listing by Varro as one in a series of Sibyls, often together with an equal number of times prophets of the Old Testament. In the numerous group representations of Sibyls there is almost always a particular designated Erythraean Sibyl, or they can be recognized by a held her banner or book pages with parts of their ascribed citation. Representations of a single Sibyl in the Gothic period, especially in the context of scenes of the Last Judgment, are often interpreted as the Erythraean Sibyl, especially since their "words" in this period building and understanding had influenced the mass for the dead and their figure also (usually only one of the Sibyls ) occurred in popular cleric games.

The Renaissance saw the apocalyptic character of the Sibyl into the background and emphasized more generally their " prophecy ". Your now probably best known pictorial representation not only from this period is the Erythrae among the five Sibyls of Michelangelo in the fresco on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

Among the numerous representations of the Erythraean Sibyl you can find them at the following locations:

• Siena, Renaissance mosaic in the floor of the cathedral, as a different image in a cycle Sibyls

Among the ten half - Gothic sculptures in the choir stalls of Ulm Minster none of the sibyls is called directly as Erythraean Sibyl, however, we find the entire text of her words there as a panel.