Secondary sourcePaintingMedieval period
The Vengeance of Tomyris
Medieval period
A medieval manuscript illustration showing Queen Tomyris's revenge and the death of Cyrus the Great, based on the ancient legend.
This manuscript illustrates the legendary death of Cyrus the Great at the hands of Queen Tomyris.
About this source
What it is
This is a page from a medieval illuminated manuscript, held today by the KB, National Library of the Netherlands. It contains two painted miniatures above columns of Latin text, showing a woman striking a fallen armored man and a crowned queen standing over another fallen soldier with a sword.
Why it matters
The illustrations retell the legend of Queen Tomyris taking revenge on Cyrus the Great, a story recorded by ancient historians and retold for centuries in medieval Europe. It shows how the dramatic end of Cyrus's life became a popular moral tale about the dangers of pride and ambition in rulers.
Look closer
- Why do you think medieval scribes illustrated this particular legend?
- What differences do you notice between the two miniatures on the page?
- How might this story have been used to teach lessons to medieval readers?
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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