3-038-094 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Empedokles Burning in the Crater of Aetna; Roman de la Rose, about 1405. According to legend, Empedocles died by throwing himself into Mount Etna in Sicily, so that the people would believe his body had vanished and he had turned into an immortal god. However the volcano threw back one of his bronze sandals, revealing the deceit. The figure on the right, who may also represent Empedocles, appears to be holding a knife to his penis, possibly about to circumcise or mutilate himself.