Erythraean Sibyl at The Louvre, Paris

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The artwork, showcased in the Salon in 1761, was part of the impressive collections of the great art enthusiasts La Live de Jully and La live de La Briche. The Erythraean Sibyl was a renowned prophetess of classical antiquity who presided over the Apollonian oracle at Erythrae, a town in Ionia opposite Chios, founded by Neleus, son of Codrus. It is presumed that there were multiple sibyls at Erythrae, with one recorded as Herophile, and another said to have been from Chaldea, daughter of Berossus who wrote the Chaldean history. Apollodorus of Erythrae claimed that a local woman predicted the Trojan War and prophesied both Troy's destruction and Homer's falsehoods. The term Sibyl originates from ancient Greek, meaning prophetess, and sibyls provided answers based on good questions, unlike prophets who responded indirectly to inquiries. There were many sibyls in ancient times, with one oracle even predicting Alexander the Great's divine parentage according to legend. In Christian iconography, the Erythraean Sibyl is often depicted as prophesying the Redemption. Examples can be seen in medieval paintings at Salisbury cathedral and other illustrations on this page. The term acrostic was first applied to the prophecies of the Erythraean Sibyl, which were inscribed on leaves and arranged so that the initial letters always formed a word. This object is part of "Scan The World", a non-profit initiative launched by MyMiniFactory, creating a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks, and landmarks from across the globe for public access. Scan The World is an open-source community effort; if you have interesting items to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to find out how you can help. Scanned using Photogrammetry (Processed with Agisoft PhotoScan).