Cerulean
This sentence was in my review...
The two of wands is the unclothed, dying Atys, punished for his unfaithfulness, from the fresco in the upper band of July. Most of these allegories are romantic stories, a strong theme in the poetry and art that I like from Ferrara.
Here's one version of a story of 'doomed ATYS:
Croesus and his Son Atys
Croesus had a fine son named ATYS [a'tis], "the doomed one," in whom he placed all his hopes. A dream came to Croesus as he slept and foretold that Atys would die, struck by the point of an iron weapon. Croesus forbade his son to engage in any further military activity, removed all weapons from the men's quarters, and arranged that his son should get a wife. In the midst of preparations for the marriage, an unfortunate suppliant, polluted by blood, arrived and begged Croesus for purification. His name was ADRASTUS [a-dras'tus], or ADRASTOS ("the one who cannot escape fate"), a Phrygian from a royal family; he had killed his brother unintentionally and had been driven out by his father. Croesus benevolently purified Adrastus and accepted him in his palace.
The Mysian Boar Hunt
It happened that the neighboring Mysians were unable to overcome a monstrous boar that was destroying their lands. They appealed to Croesus that he send his son with an expedition to come to their aid. Croesus, remembering the dream, refused. But his valiant son, anxious to help the Mysians, convinced his father to allow him to go. Atys argued that the fight was not against men but a boar; since a boar did not have hands or an iron weapon, how could he possibly die by the point of an iron weapon, if he went on the hunt?
Croesus was won over but, nevertheless, was still concerned about his son's safety. So he asked Adrastus that, in return for the great kindness that he had done him, he go along with Atys to act as his gaurdian. Adrastus, although reluctant, could not refuse Croesus' request.
In the midst of the hunt, as the attackers hurled their weapons against the wild beast, Adrastus missed his aim and hit instead Atys, and killed him. And the prophecy of the dream was fulfilled.
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My guess is the story might be a double meaning---Atys didn't believe the story of his fate and defied the gods and his father by being in the presence of an iron weapon. He was tragically killed---because he was trying to circumvent his annoyance at the ban. The grevious fate that met him might be a parable about trying to face what irritates or annoys the seeker.
And I agree, it is difficult if one doesn't have the Schifanioa Palace Book--there is one available for 30.00 at the United Kingdom...
http://dogbert.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?y=11&kn=The+Schifanoia+Months+at+Ferrara&x=16
The two of wands is the unclothed, dying Atys, punished for his unfaithfulness, from the fresco in the upper band of July. Most of these allegories are romantic stories, a strong theme in the poetry and art that I like from Ferrara.
Here's one version of a story of 'doomed ATYS:
Croesus and his Son Atys
Croesus had a fine son named ATYS [a'tis], "the doomed one," in whom he placed all his hopes. A dream came to Croesus as he slept and foretold that Atys would die, struck by the point of an iron weapon. Croesus forbade his son to engage in any further military activity, removed all weapons from the men's quarters, and arranged that his son should get a wife. In the midst of preparations for the marriage, an unfortunate suppliant, polluted by blood, arrived and begged Croesus for purification. His name was ADRASTUS [a-dras'tus], or ADRASTOS ("the one who cannot escape fate"), a Phrygian from a royal family; he had killed his brother unintentionally and had been driven out by his father. Croesus benevolently purified Adrastus and accepted him in his palace.
The Mysian Boar Hunt
It happened that the neighboring Mysians were unable to overcome a monstrous boar that was destroying their lands. They appealed to Croesus that he send his son with an expedition to come to their aid. Croesus, remembering the dream, refused. But his valiant son, anxious to help the Mysians, convinced his father to allow him to go. Atys argued that the fight was not against men but a boar; since a boar did not have hands or an iron weapon, how could he possibly die by the point of an iron weapon, if he went on the hunt?
Croesus was won over but, nevertheless, was still concerned about his son's safety. So he asked Adrastus that, in return for the great kindness that he had done him, he go along with Atys to act as his gaurdian. Adrastus, although reluctant, could not refuse Croesus' request.
In the midst of the hunt, as the attackers hurled their weapons against the wild beast, Adrastus missed his aim and hit instead Atys, and killed him. And the prophecy of the dream was fulfilled.
------------------------------------------------------------------
My guess is the story might be a double meaning---Atys didn't believe the story of his fate and defied the gods and his father by being in the presence of an iron weapon. He was tragically killed---because he was trying to circumvent his annoyance at the ban. The grevious fate that met him might be a parable about trying to face what irritates or annoys the seeker.
And I agree, it is difficult if one doesn't have the Schifanioa Palace Book--there is one available for 30.00 at the United Kingdom...
http://dogbert.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?y=11&kn=The+Schifanoia+Months+at+Ferrara&x=16
