Hercules draagt de zuilen 1550

Heinrich Aldegrever's 1550 engraving, *Hercules draagt de zuilen*, depicts the Greek hero Hercules carrying two pillars. The artwork, housed in the Rijksmuseum, showcases Aldegrever's detailed, Renaissance-inspired style. With meticulous lines, he captures Hercules's muscular physique and the weight of the pillars. In the background, a ship and smaller figures add depth and context to the scene. The inscription at the bottom, "Viribus aequilas manu tellure columnas nominis aeterni Chon monumenta ponit," translates to "With equal strength he places the pillars of the earth, a monument to the eternal name of Hercules," highlighting the strength and enduring legacy of the mythological figure.