Hertog van Mantua met de zes voornaamste heidense goden 1589 - 1626

This engraving depicts the Duke of Mantua surrounded by six principal pagan gods. Here, the gods are visual symbols—each embodying specific attributes and narratives that have traversed centuries. Note the figure of Jupiter abducting Europa, a motif echoed in countless artworks from antiquity to the Renaissance. This scene, charged with erotic tension and divine power, speaks to the enduring human fascination with themes of desire, conquest, and transformation. Europa's limp posture, the bull's muscular form—these are gestures of primal power engaging viewers on a subconscious level. Consider how such motifs evolve. In ancient Greece, Europa's abduction might symbolize cultural exchange; in later Christian interpretations, it could represent the soul's journey. This non-linear, cyclical progression shows how symbols resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings in different historical contexts. They tap into our collective memory, revealing how images carry emotional and cultural weight across time and space.