Tomyris with the head of Cyrus

About this work

This print shows a dramatic scene with a crowd of people in old-fashioned clothes. A woman in a long dress stands at the center, holding a cup while a kneeling man—bare-chested and bound—offers her a bowl. Around them, others watch, some with weapons, others with serious or angry faces. The background is dark and crowded with swirling clouds and architectural ruins, adding to the tense mood. The kneeling man’s posture and the woman’s calm expression suggest a moment of victory or punishment. The Latin text below hints at a story of power and revenge, but the exact tale isn’t clear just from looking. If this scene interests you, check out the Victoria and Albert Museum to see it in person.