Pallas and Mars with His Horse [reverse] 1527

This bronze medal was made by Giovanni Maria Pomedelli around the early 16th century. Observe Pallas, the goddess of wisdom, gently guiding the branches of an olive tree, a symbol of peace and prosperity, while Mars, the god of war, stands armed on horseback. The contrast between these two figures is striking. It reminds me of similar pairings throughout history: the juxtaposition of intellect and brute force. Think of the ancient Roman depictions of Minerva and Mars, or even the medieval allegories of peace and war. Note how Mars is mounted on his steed; a powerful image we have seen echoing through time from the equestrian statues of Roman emperors to Renaissance portrayals of triumphant generals. This motif is not merely about physical power, but also about control, mastery, and the sublimation of primal instincts. The tension between Pallas’s gesture of peace and Mars’s readiness for war creates a subconscious pull, mirroring the eternal conflict between reason and impulse within the human psyche. This medal is a powerful reminder of the cyclical, ever-present dance between destruction and creation.