Geffrey Whitney, A choice of emblemes (Leiden, 1586)

Emblem 40

Hercules am Scheidewege, between Minerva (Virtue) and Venus (Vice)

Facsimile

Notes and related emblems

• Related emblem in another book: embmne_jun1565_emblem044

Iconclass

• 12B61 temple, shrine ~ non-Christian religions
• 12BB63 statues, paintings, etc. ~ objects of worship (non-Christian religions) - BB - in the open air
• 25F23(LION)(+351) beasts of prey, predatory animals: lion (+ skin, fleece, hide, fur, leather)
• 25I144 square, place, circus, etc.
• 25I153 obelisk, needle
• 31A141 nude with covered genitals
• 31AA222(+89) chest, bust - AA - female human figure (+ nude human being)
• 31A2512(+932) arm stretched forward (+ addressing)
• 31A2512(+933) arm stretched forward (+ holding something)
• 31A2513(+933) arm stretched sidewards (+ holding something)
• 31AA2513 arm stretched sidewards - AA - both arms or hands
• 31A2515(+933) arm held downwards (+ holding something)
• 31A25432 leading someone by the hand or wrist
• 31A25551 index finger upwards
• 31A26112(+51) standing or leaning with both legs straight, side by side, standing on tiptoe (+ standing)
• 31A2711 walking
• 31AA2711 walking - AA - female human figure
• 31D11221(+89) boy (child between toddler and youth) (+ nude human being)
• 31D14 adult man
• 31D15 adult woman
• 41B162 smoke
• 41D211(+82) dress, gown (+ women's clothes)
• 41D23(+82) clothing for the lower part of the body (+ women's clothes)
• 41D2339 barefoot
• 41D27 drapery, draped garment, 'Gewandgebung'
• 41D91 man (showing himself) undressed, quasi-nude
• 41D92 woman (showing herself) undressed, quasi-nude
• 45C14(LANCE) helved weapons, polearms (for striking, hacking, thrusting): lance
• 45C19(SHIELD) protective weapons: shield
• 45C221 helmet
• 45C23 quiver
• 46C1160 cross-roads, bifurcation (represented allegorically or symbolically)
• 48C24 piece of sculpture, reproduction of a piece of sculpture
• 57A6(+11) Virtuousness; 'Amor di Virtù', 'Attione virtuosa', 'Guida sicura de' veri honori', 'Virtù', 'Virtù insuperabile' (Ripa) (+ abstract concept represented by female figure)
• 57A6(+4) Virtuousness; 'Amor di Virtù', 'Attione virtuosa', 'Guida sicura de' veri honori', 'Virtù', 'Virtù insuperabile' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept)
• 57AA6(+11) Viciousness, Naughtiness (+ abstract concept represented by female figure)
• 57AA6(+4) Viciousness, Naughtiness (+ emblematical representation of concept)
• 86(BIVIUM VIRTUTIS ET VITII) proverbs, sayings, etc. (BIVIUM VIRTUTIS ET VITII)
• 92C2 (story of) Minerva (Pallas, Athena)
• 92C28(ARMOUR) attributes of Minerva (ARMOUR)
• 92C28(HELMET) attributes of Minerva (HELMET)
• 92C28(LANCE) attributes of Minerva (LANCE)
• 92C281 Aegis: shield with Gorgon's head (attribute of Minerva)
• 92C4 (story of) Venus (Aphrodite)
• 92D1 (story of) Cupid, Amor (Eros)
• 92D18(QUIVER) attributes of Cupid: quiver
• 94L72 Hercules at the cross-roads, 'Herkules am Scheidewege': the choice of Hercules
• 94L8(LION'S SKIN) attributes of Hercules: lion's skin

Sources

Record ID: embstma_1667_emblem040
This emblem on the Iconclass site: https://iconclass.org/view/embstma_1667_emblem040
Copy: University Library, Glasgow, Stirling Maxwell 1667