After a chiaroscuro woodcut from two blocks by Ugo da Carpi from a design by Raphael of Urbino, Rome, 16th Century.
In classical mythology sibyls were female prophets whose ecstatic utterances were inspired by Apollo. The sibyl of Cumae was said to have offered Tarquineus Superbus, one of the later kings of Rome, nine books of prophesies on Rome’s destiny in return for half the king’s fortune. When he answered that the price was too high, she burned three books and offered him the other six at the same price. Finally, she burned three more, and he paid the original price for the remaining three. The Sibylline books were placed in the Temple of Jupiter on the CapitolineHill and consulted in times of emergency. Our modern libraries evolved from this building.

Limited edition (250) screen print from two hand-cut stencils.