Secondary sourcePainting1450
The Vengeance of Tomyris
1450
A medieval manuscript illumination showing Tomyris, queen of the Massagetae, killing Cyrus and dipping his severed head in blood in revenge.
This later legendary image depicts Cyrus's death and the revenge taken upon him by Queen Tomyris.
About this source
What it is
This is a page from a 1450 illuminated manuscript held by the KB, National Library of the Netherlands. It shows two painted scenes: a woman striking a man with a hammer, and a woman holding a sword and a severed head over a vessel, with two columns of handwritten text beneath.
Why it matters
The image depicts a legendary story of Queen Tomyris avenging herself on Cyrus the Great after his death, by having his head dipped in blood. It was made centuries after Cyrus lived, showing how later medieval artists imagined and retold stories about ancient rulers.
Look closer
- What details in the image suggest violence and revenge?
- Why might medieval illustrators have been drawn to this dramatic story about Cyrus's death?
- How might this scene differ from historical accounts of how Cyrus actually died?
This painting is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Cyrus the Great on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.
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