Man te paard gekleed als Apollo 1584

This engraving by Jost Amman depicts a man dressed as Apollo, the Greco-Roman god of light, prophecy, and the arts. Here, Apollo rides a horse, both adorned with solar symbols, emphasizing his connection to the sun and enlightenment. The radiant crown of solar rays around Apollo’s head immediately strikes one as an emblem of divinity. We see variations of this motif across cultures—from the halo in Christian iconography, symbolizing divine grace, to the sun disks of ancient Egyptian deities. These symbols are not mere representations but powerful visual carriers of spiritual and intellectual illumination. There's a psychological depth to how light, embodied by Apollo, affects us. Light has always been associated with knowledge and clarity, casting away shadows of ignorance and fear. The recurring motif of solar deities and their radiant attributes serve as a beacon across epochs, their emotional resonance engaging us on a subconscious level, promising enlightenment and hope. The symbol of Apollo on horseback reflects a cyclical progression, resurfacing in new forms, each time adapted, yet fundamentally unchanged in its core message of enlightenment and progress.