Salammbo is super cool

When I encountered this image during our class’s trout gallery visit, it quite literally stopped me in my tracks. Salammbô is visually stunning in its composition as well as narratively intriguing. It instantly sparked several questions about the circumstances of the print as well as its cultural significance and origin. I was fascinated to learn that this beautiful work is inspired by a book of the same name by famous French novelist Gustav Flaubert. The book tells the story of Salammbo, the daughter of the chief magistrate of Carthage, and the subject of this print. In the novel, Salammbo communes with a python, a symbol of the powerful moon goddess Tanith to gain the courage to steal back a protective mystical veil from the attacking mercenaries. In doing so, she saves the people of Carthage from a violent siege. 

 When I first saw this image, I was shocked by the immediate physical danger that Salammbô seems to be in. The snake is portrayed as very large and almost menacing at first glance, with its jaws poised dangerously close to her face. However, upon closer inspection, I noticed the sensual way in which the python is constricting itself around her as if it is clinging to her curves. Additionally, Salammbô’s facial expression is one of ecstasy and pleasure, which is surprising given the circumstances. Her glance towards the viewer is almost inviting, which evokes ideas of exhibitionism. The shading of the man in the background also suggests that he is unseen by Salammbô, therefore assuming the role of an unsolicited voyeur. Themes such as these were very popular in French salon artwork at the time, and pieces like this were especially appreciated by Victorian male viewers.  

For Victorians, sexuality was meant to be controlled and subjugated in everyday life whenever possible. Women were held to extremely high standards of modesty, and limited to procreative sex with their socially acceptable, lawfully wedded husbands.  They were meant to uphold the image of “the Angel in the House”, pure and uncorrupted by the outside world, unable to lead lives of their own or do anything really without the permission of men. Stories like Salammbo directly contradict these social expectations in a fantastical way. The subject of this striking work of art is daring, powerful, and yes, sexual on her own terms! Unlike Biblical Eve, who was tricked by a snake into succumbing to temptation and causing the fall of man, Salammbô is entwining herself with this python because she believes it will save her people. Therefore, this piece stands in stark contrast to many of the widely held beliefs about women at the time. Salammbô’s sexuality in this print differs from both typical associations with the femme fatale (she is supposedly using it to do moral good) and the prudish and restrictive connotations associated with the real-world Victorian body.  Based on these elements, it makes sense that the Victorians would be both fascinated and intimidated by this work, as it represents both an interesting foreign culture and “indecent” ideas about female sexuality.   

Sources:

Williams, Kate. “The Victorians were no prudes, but women had to play by men’s rules”. The Gaurdian, 23 May 2019, https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/may/23/queen-victoria-sex-nudes-paintings-prudes-women. Accessed 9 April 2025.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Salammbô”. Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Apr. 2015, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Salammbo. Accessed 9 April 2025. 

 

2 thoughts on “Salammbo is super cool”

  1. Salammbo reminds me very much of the female nudes that were painted by Manet and his contemporaries in France during the Victorian age in England. Although we know that clearly ideals were very different in France vs England, I think the reception for each is interesting. For example, the French had more of a problem with the deliberate depiction of prostitution than of the nude body. Obviously Salammbo is a French character so I wonder how she would have been differently perceived by the French. Also, how would the added layer of her clearly experiencing some sort of ecstasy have influenced this perception?

  2. I also was fascinated by Salammbo and this is such a great in-depth analysis. I especially liked that you pointed out how she is NOT a typical femme fatale. However, I wonder what else you might say about her sexuality…the snake seems to read as phallic (and animals in art typically represent masculinity) but your summary of the story said it was a symbol of the moon GODDESS….which makes me think there is perhaps some sort of female/female sexuality going on! This could be an interesting place to analysis how the painting reads on the surface versus understanding the reference…

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