Gezicht op een meer met daarin sculpturen van onder andere Neptunus before 1912

This photograph by Coppin-Goisse captures a lake adorned with sculptures, including Neptune. Neptune, the Roman god of the sea, mirrors the Greek Poseidon, and embodies the elemental power of water. The figure of Neptune, a classical symbol of dominion over the seas, reminds us of the archaic veneration of water deities, reflecting our primal dependence on and fear of the oceans. This motif transcends eras, echoing in Renaissance fountains and Baroque garden sculptures, continuously reinvented to assert mastery over nature. Consider the emotional weight carried by Neptune—his commanding presence meant to invoke awe, yet also, a subtle reminder of the unpredictable, often destructive nature of the seas. Like a recurrent dream, the symbols of Neptune and other water deities resurface across cultures, each time colored by the fears and aspirations of a new age. The ongoing evolution of this classical symbol, as seen in Coppin-Goisse's photograph, marks Neptune’s cyclical return, forever shaping our understanding of the deep and its symbolic potential.