Guillaume de La Perrièrre, Le Theatre Des Bons Engins (Lyon, 1545)
Emblem 83
A serpent biting its tail on top of a columnAI-generated
C'est grand'Vertu de cognoistre soymesme.
Emblem 83. It is a great virtue to know oneself.AI-generated
Description of the woodcutAI-generated
A tall classical column with base and capital stands on a stepped platform or terrace in the foreground. On top of the column rests a large ring formed by a serpent biting its own tail. Behind stretches a landscape: a body of water at the left with a small boat, a hilly shore at the right with buildings including a tower and a ruined structure, trees and shrubs, a winding stream in the foreground, clouds at the upper left and a flock of birds in the upper right sky.
Subscriptio
TranscriptionAI-generated
AV temps passé le peuple de Phœnice,Feit esleuer vne telle figure,En vne place eminente & propice,Pour apparoistre à toute creature:Signifiant par icelle paincture,Que prudent est, qui soy mesme se picque.Par le Serpent faict en forme sphericque,Nous en auons expresse demonstrance:Au monde n'est plus seure Theoricque,Que de soymesme auoir la cognoissance.
TranslationAI-generated
In times past the people of Phoenicia had such a figure set up, in a high and suitable place, so that it might be seen by every creature: signifying by that image that he is prudent who pricks (examines) himself. By the Serpent made in spherical form we have an express demonstration of it: there is in the world no surer doctrine than to have knowledge of oneself.
Iconclass
86(C'EST GRAND'VERTU DE COGNOISTRE SOYMESME)proverbs, sayings, etc. (C'EST GRAND'VERTU DE COGNOISTRE SOYMESME)25H13coast25I9landscape with ruins48C161column, pillar ~ architecture23A21serpent Ouroboros25I152monument, statue52A53Self-knowledge
Suggested Iconclass codesAI-generated
Additional codes proposed for this emblem, not (yet) part of the indexing.
48C161column, pillar ~ architecturehighThe emblem's central motif is a tall classical column standing on a stepped platform, matching 'column, pillar ~ architecture'.
48C1612capital (~ column, pillar)mediumThe description explicitly notes the column's capital, on which the serpent-ring rests, matching 'capital (~ column, pillar)'.
48C1613base (~ column, pillar)mediumThe description explicitly mentions the column's base, matching 'base (~ column, pillar)'.
Relationships to the Adagia of ErasmusAI-generated
Suggested relationships between this emblem and adages in Erasmus’ Adagia.
- I vi 95 Nosce teipsum – direct mottohigh
The emblem's motto 'C'est grand' Vertu de cognoistre soymesme' and its closing line ('Au monde n'est plus seure Theoricque, / Que de soymesme auoir la cognoissance') are a direct French rendering of the Delphic adage Γνῶθι σεαυτόν / Nosce teipsum, which Erasmus treats at length in the Adagia (I vi 95).
- IV v 4 Non est beatus, esse qui se nesciat – thematic inventiomedium
Erasmus's adage insists that happiness requires self-knowledge ('it is not enough to enjoy good fortune unless you realize you have it'), the same moral the emblem draws from the Phoenician ouroboros: no surer doctrine than knowledge of oneself.
- III iii 6 ἄζελος πλοῦτος – thematic inventiolow
The adage concerns the man ignorant of his own qualities and the maxim that 'it is not the least ingredient of happiness that each man should be conscious of his blessings', which overlaps with the emblem's praise of self-examination, though without any textual borrowing.
Sources
Record ID: embhab_162-3-eth-b_emblem083
This emblem on the Iconclass site: https://iconclass.org/view/embhab_162-3-eth-b_emblem083
Page in the digital copy of the Herzog August Bibliothek: http://diglib.hab.de/drucke/162-3-eth-b/start.htm?image=00096