 |
| Anonymous Maker working in France Leda and the Swan ca. 1550 cameo in opal, gold and enamel with enameled-gold mount set with rubies and diamonds Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna |
 |
| Anonymous Maker working in France Hercules and King Busiris ca. 1550 shell cameo with enameled-gold mount set with rubies and diamonds Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna |
BUSIRIS – In a Greek legend preserved in a fragment of Pherecydes, an Egyptian king, son of Poseidon and Lyssianassa. After Egypt has been afflicted for nine years with famine, Phrasius, a seer of Cyprus, arrived in Egypt and announced that the cessation of the famine would not take place until a foreigner was yearly sacrificed to Zeus or Jupiter. Busiris commenced by sacrificing the prophet, and continued the custom by offering a foreigner on the altar of the god. It is here that Busiris enters into the circle of the myths and parerga of Heracles, who had arrived in Egypt from Libya, and was seized and bound ready to be killed and offered at the altar of Zeus in Memphis. Heracles burst the bonds which bound him, and, seizing his club, slew Busiris with his son Amphidamas and his herald Chalbes. The episode if often represented on vase paintings from the 6th century BC and onwards.
– Encyclopædia Britannica, 11th edition (1910-11)
 |
| Anonymous Maker working in France Armoured Warrior ca. 1550-1600 agate cameo with enameled-gold mount Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna |
 |
| Anonymous Maker working in France Hercules and Omphale ca. 1575-1600 onyx cameo with enameled-gold mount Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna |
 |
| Anonymous Maker working in France Attila ca. 1550-1600 onyx cameo with silver-gilt mount Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna |
 |
| Anonymous Maker working in Italy Abundantia ca. 1550 onyx cameo with enameled-gold mount Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna |
 |
| Anonymous Maker working in Italy Judgment of Paris ca. 1550 chalcedony cameo with enameled-gold mount set with rubies Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna |
 |
| Anonymous Maker working in Italy Juno, Venus and Minerva ca. 1550-1600 chalcedony cameo with enameled-gold mount set with rubies and diamonds Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna |
 |
| Anonymous Maker working in Italy Jupiter driving a Four-Horse Chariot ca. 1550 onyx cameo with enameled-gold mount set with diamonds Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna |
 |
| Anonymous Maker working in Italy Marine Venus ca. 1550 chalcedony cameo with enameled-gold mount Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna |
 |
| Anonymous Maker working in Italy Meleager and Atalanta ca. 1540 chalcedony cameo with enameled-gold mount set with diamonds Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna |
 |
| Anonymous Maker working in Italy Murder of Aegisthus and Clytemnestra by Orestes ca. 1450-1500 onyx cameo with enameled-gold mount Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna |
AEGISTHUS – In Greek legend, Aegisthus was the son of Thyestes by his own daughter Pelopia. Having been exposed by his mother to conceal her shame, he was found by shepherds and suckled by a goat – whence his name. His uncle Atreus, who had married Pelopia, took him to Mycenae, until they were deposed by Agamemnon on his return from exile. After the departure of Agamemnon to the Trojan war, Aegisthus seduced his wife Clytemnestra, and with her assistance slew Agamemnon on his return. Eight years later this murder was avenged by Agamemnon's son, Orestes.
– Encyclopædia Britannica, 11th edition (1910-11)
 |
| Anonymous Maker working in Italy Poseidon and Athena disputing sovereignty over the city of Athens ca. 1250-1300 onyx cameo with enameled-gold mount set with rubies and diamonds Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna |
 |
| Anonymous Maker working in Italy The Laocoön ca. 1535-65 chalcedony cameo with gold mount Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna |
 |
| Anonymous Maker working in Italy Venus and Cupid ca. 1550-75 chalcedony cameo with enameled-gold mount Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna |