Paulus Bor: Cydippe with the Apple of Acontius (1645 - 1655)

 

(Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

A painting by the Dutch artist Paulus Bor (1601 - 1669). This painting shows a scene from Greek mythology. According to the story, Acontius saw Cydippe, a well-born Athenian maiden of whom he was enamoured, sitting in the temple of Artemis. He wrote on an apple the words, "I swear by Artemis that I will marry Acontius", and threw it at her feet. She picked it up, and mechanically read the words aloud, which amounted to a solemn undertaking to carry them out. Cydippe treated Acontius with contempt and was betrothed more than once. She however always fell ill before the wedding took place. The Delphic oracle declared the cause of her illnesses to be the wrath of Artemis; whereupon her father consented to her marriage with Acontius. Painting from 1645-1655.