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Thesée, which premiered at the court theater at St. Germain-en-laye on January 11, 1675, was Jean-Baptiste Lully's third tragédie lyrique created in collaboration with librettist Philippe Quinault. As in most of his libretti for Lully, Quinault combines a plot based on a classical source (an episode from Ovid's Metamorphoses) with references to contemporary events. The Prologue alludes to Louis XIV's personal leadership in the military engagements in the Alsace (along the French/German border). The juxtaposition of Venus' entreaties for pleasure with Mars' call to arms reflects a period of unease during which the French armies were in retreat from the armies of the Elector of Brandenburg. This resulted in the unique joining of songs of love with songs of war and victory.

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center detail with fruit, nest with eggs, lizard

close-up detail with lizard licking egg

couples at center

close-up detail of couple in foreground

embarkation at left

Overall view of the façade from N on redesigned Karlsplatz

Chart describing the governmental structure of the political entities of the Americas circa 1719 as well as a general overview, including 4 drawings and 1 map. Contents: Instruction généralle -- Conseil de l'Amerique Septentrionalle -- Conseil de Terre Ferme -- Conseil de l'Amerique Meridionalle -- Gouvernement Ecclésiastique -- Pais de l'Amerique appartenant aux autres puissances de l'Europe -- Carte de l'Amerique -- Revenue des Arch. et Eveschez de l'Amerique.