Handwritten: "Jupiter sits on Olympus [,] an eagle mounted on his sceptre, and looks at Ceres and Aphrodite, or Proserpine and one of the seasons, holding ivy. Mercury crowned with myrtle holds his caduceus. Two flowers in the form of stars are above. Triptolemus in his winged chariot drawn by two dragons holds his sceptre and wheat. Ceres presents wheat to her protege. She holds a torch ending with crossed pieces that form a circle when lighted. Hecate holds a torch. Proserpine holds a scaphoid or paropsis to feed the dragon. A fleur de lis grows at her feet. Poniatowski collection."
Source Note: Elite des monuments céramographiques : matériaux pour l'histoire des religions et des moeurs de l'antiquité. (Paris : Leleux, 1844-1861) Lenormant, Charles (1802-1859), Author.

Physical Description

Lithographs
Extent: 34.5 x 50 cm
Heavy foxing on image.

Abstract

Triptolemus was a "culture hero" (the mythical inventor of a useful art or skill) who taught early people about the basics of agriculture and civilization. In this picture, major deities are present with him, showing his importance. Snakes, since they lived in the ground, were symbols of knowledge of the secrets of the Earth. A "scaphoid" is a boat-like drinking vessel. A "paropsis" is a low-sided platter used for serving food. The creatures described as dragons in the caption look like big snakes with crests on their heads. Note the different possible identities assigned to some of the figures in the painting, the result of trying to identify them based on the attributes (clothing, hair, objects carried or held, etc.) illustrated by the artist.

Identifiers

Universal Unique Identifier (UUID): 924e0e50-c5be-012f-90e7-58d385a7bc34

Rights

The New York Public Library believes that this item is in the public domain under the laws of the United States, but did not make a determination as to its copyright status under the copyright laws of other countries. This item may not be in the public domain under the laws of other countries. Though not required, if you want to credit us as the source, please use the following statement, "From The New York Public Library," and provide a link back to the item on our Digital Collections site. Doing so helps us track how our collection is used and helps justify freely releasing even more content in the future.

Type Of Resource

Still Image

Date Issued

1844

Cite this item

MLA format

The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Picture Collection, The New York Public Library. "Mythological beings" The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1844 - 1861. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/924e0e50-c5be-012f-90e7-58d385a7bc34

APA format

The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Picture Collection, The New York Public Library. (1844 - 1861). Mythological beings Retrieved from https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/924e0e50-c5be-012f-90e7-58d385a7bc34

Chicago/Turabian Format

The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Picture Collection, The New York Public Library. "Mythological beings" New York Public Library Digital Collections. Accessed January 12, 2026. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/924e0e50-c5be-012f-90e7-58d385a7bc34

Wikipedia citation

<ref name=NYPL>{{cite web | url=https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/924e0e50-c5be-012f-90e7-58d385a7bc34 | title= (still image) Mythological beings (1844 - 1861) | author=Digital Collections, The New York Public Library | accessdate=January 12, 2026 | publisher=The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox, and Tilden Foundations}}</ref>