Page 108 - SUMMARIES OF GIOVANNI BOCCACCIO’S DECAMEON : A Visionary Journey In 100 Stories And 100 Etchings By Petru Russu

Cimon and Iphigenia

The story follows Cimon, a young man from Cyprus, whose initial
reputation is one of coarseness and ignorance. Little is expected of him,
until love intervenes.

One day, while roaming near the gardens of a noble estate, Cimon lays eyes on
Iphigenia, a maiden of rare beauty and refined grace. In an instant, something
stirs within him. Moved not only by her looks but by the purity of her manner,
he experiences a profound inner awakening. Love becomes his tutor. He seeks

learning, embraces culture, and soon becomes admired as a gentleman of
poise and intellect, all so he might be worthy of Iphigenia’s affection.

Yet society proves less adaptable than the heart. Iphigenia’s family,
unmoved by Cimon’s transformation, arranges her marriage to another
suitor. Refusing to accept this fate, Cimon acts boldly. He intercepts
Iphigenia’s wedding voyage at sea and abducts her, hoping to secure the
happiness they both desire. However, fate intervenes once more, the

lovers are apprehended and imprisoned in Rhodes.

There, Cimon meets Lysimachus, a nobleman and fellow captive, whose

plight mirrors his own. A friendship blooms, and together they devise a
daring escape and rescue mission. On the day Iphigenia and Cassandra,
INFUSED WITH KINETIC Lysimachus’s beloved, are to be married to others, the two men storm
ABSTRACTION AND NEO-HEROIC the celebrations. In a sweep of courage and chaos, they reclaim their
FIGURATION, THE ARTWORK
beloveds and flee toward Crete.
MERGES MYTHIC DYNAMISM
AND SURREAL COLORFIELDS,
TRANSFORMING CIMON’S In Crete, the couples finda brief respite and solemnize their unions in peace.
REDEMPTION ARC INTO A VISUAL Eventually, they return to their homelands, not in defeat, but vindicated by love,
VOYAGE OF METAMORPHOSIS,
by valor, and by the perseverance of their hearts. Cimon’s journey from brutish
MOVEMENT, AND EMOTIONAL
VELOCITY. youth to enlightened lover frames a tale as timeless as it is thrilling.
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