Assembly of the Gods after the ceiling composition in the Loggia di Psiche, Villa Farnesina, Rome 1527

Giovanni Jacopo Caraglio created this engraving, "Assembly of the Gods", inspired by the Loggia di Psiche at Villa Farnesina in Rome. It is abundant with classical iconography, each figure representing a different god with their own attributes. Note the god Mercury, identified by his caduceus. This symbol of medicine and commerce, with entwined snakes, evolved from the ancient Greek 'kerykeion,' a staff carried by heralds. The caduceus appears in various forms across cultures, from ancient Mesopotamia to modern-day emblems. We observe this ancient symbol still resonates today, representing healing, and the balance of opposing forces. The image conveys a sense of divine order and harmony, an ideal world the Renaissance sought to recapture. Consider how such imagery taps into our collective unconscious, evoking a yearning for a golden age. The symbols in this engraving are not static; they are living entities, constantly evolving.