Edgar Degas, Sémiramis construisant Babylone

Queen Semiramis stands (just left of center) on a terrace gazing left, across a river, toward the city of Babylon under construction. Behind her and slightly to the right stands a cluster of four women attendants. In the deep background behind the attendants stand 3 or 4 other figures and some trees. One woman crouches directly behind Semiramis near a small basket of flowers. To the right of her is a horse and chariot, its reins held by another woman facing away from the viewer.

Edgar Degas, Sémiramis construisant Babylone (1861). Musée d'Orsay, Paris, France. Photo: © musée d'Orsay / rmn.

Online Resources
Musée d'Orsay
Associated Passages
Ovid, Amores 1.5
Date
1861