Medieval pendant with Aristotle and Phillida (Phyllis)
This pendant was made after a late medieval aquamanile that depicts the story of Aristotle and Phillida, a theme that was very popular in the late Middle Ages and served mainly to entertain.
The pendant depicts the philosopher Aristotle and Phillida, with whom he was in love, being carried around a garden: Phillida sits on Aristotle's back and pats his buttocks with her hand.
The historical antecedent of this pendant is a medieval aquamanile from the 14th-15th centuries, now in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET) in New York.
Even today, this medieval pendant is likely to cause a stir and is undoubtedly ideal as a joking love gift, or as an original engagement or medieval-themed wedding gift.
The Aristotle and Phillida pendant measures 3.5 × 3.2 × 1 cm
The Middle High German story of Aristotle and Phillida probably first spread in the 13th century in the area between Basel and Strasbourg and has been a popular motif since the Middle Ages, not only in literature but also in tapestries and paintings.
Particularly in the late Middle Ages, the story was widespread in pictorial representations. It often appeared on objects of everyday courtly life, such as statuettes, knife handles, combs or even reliefs on the facades of churches and cathedrals.
The medieval story of Aristotle and Phillida works with the motif of a wise man who is seduced by a beautiful woman, outwitted and finally publicly ridiculed.
The Macedonian ruler Philip brought the philosopher Aristotle to court as a tutor for his son Alexander. However, Aristotle fell so in love with the beautiful Phillida that he could no longer concentrate fully on teaching. Consequently, he separated the two lovers because he himself had feelings for Phillida.
Phillida felt deprived of her love and decided to take revenge on Aristotle. When he asked her to spend the night with him for a fee, she seemingly agreed, but on the condition that he carry her around the garden like a horse.
Phillida put a saddle on Aristotle and rode on his back through the garden singing a love song. This was noticed by the ladies of the court and the queen herself. Aristotle was so exposed to shame and ridicule that he fled to a distant land, where he spent the rest of his life pondering the depravity of women.
The motif of the wise man humiliated and ridiculed by a cunning woman has been known in world literature since the 5th century and appears in Chinese, Arabic and Persian stories of the same period. It probably entered Europe during the Crusades and spread to many countries from the 13th to the 16th century.
- Material: bronze
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