'A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head' (Revelation 12,1).
To the left, the woman, who is here identified as the Virgin, clothed in the sun and supported by the moon, does not seem to be truly threatened by a dragon with seven crowned heads, which is angry and is vomiting a river against her. In accordance with the account, the earth opens and drinks it to protect the woman, while two angels with a club and a sword are preparing to crush the dragon's heads. The image interprets in some parts John's vision:
The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth so that it might devour her child the moment he was born. She gave birth to a son, a male child [Christ], who will rule all the nations with an iron sceptre. And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne. (Revelation 12, 4-5).
