Tomyris sees the head of Cyrus

What it is

This is a miniature from the De casibus manuscript, dated about 1435 to 1440, held in the Bibliotheque nationale de France as BNF Fr. 229, folio 78. It shows a crowned queen in a red robe and armor, with one hand raised, standing before a man bending over a wooden tub that holds a severed head. Soldiers with spears and shields stand behind her against a blue sky and rocky hills. The scene illustrates the story of Tomyris and the death of Cyrus, which the manuscript was made about a century after.

Why it matters

Ancient writers told the story that Tomyris, queen of the Massagetae, defeated Cyrus and had his head placed in a vessel of blood. Medieval artists kept this story alive and presented the queen as an example of a warrior ruler. The picture shows how Cyrus's death was remembered in Europe centuries later, and how medieval readers used it to think about courage and power.

Look closer

• What do you see the queen doing, and how does the artist show her power?
• Why might a medieval book include a violent scene from the ancient world?
• What does the picture leave out about the ancient sources and the reasons for the war?