tapestry

Tapestry, one of a set of five panels depicting the myth of Bellerophon. This panel has been cut down from its original size, possibly to fit behind a doorway and as a consequence the subject matter is unclear. Described as 'Ladies of the Court Congregate' in Ernest Kent's 1946 article on the tapestries, he suggests that this panel may have shown the expulsion of Bellerophon from Corinth following the killing of Bellerus. As evidence for this supposition, Kent gives the fact that the opening scene in the storyline is missing from the other panels, and also points to the walled city and flag in the top right of the scene, perhaps meant to indicate Corinth. This explains why this panel is the first in the sequence of extension numbers in the accession group. Woven in wool, with a coarse silk thread used exclusively for the white parts, black thread outlines have largely perished; 1500 - 1515 formerly displayed in the Great Hall, at Strangers' Hall.