A naked woman holding two boars; representing Circe who transformed men into swine by depriving them of reason. Etching by D. Pernati after L. Sabatelli.

The lower half of the woman's body is in the form of a dragon

In Homer's Odyssey (Book 10), Odysseus and his companions land on Circe's island. Circe was a witch, who gave travellers a magic potion which turned them into animals. Some of Odysseus's companions fell into this trap, but not Odysseus who had been forewarned by Hermes

[Italy] : [publisher not identified], [1800?]

1 print : etching ; platemark 27.4 x 22.4 cm

Homines ratione destituti in pecudum degenerant naturam libidine (Eras. Rot). Alo. Sabatelli inv. Dam. Pernati inc.

Wellcome Collection 647462i