Bas-reliëf met Mithras op een stier 1636 - 1647

Gabriel Ladame made this engraving depicting Mithras slaying the bull. Here, we see Mithras, a deity of Persian origin, enacting a sacred bull sacrifice, a powerful image promising renewal and fertility. The act of tauroctony, or bull-slaying, echoes through time. Consider its resemblance to earlier Mesopotamian depictions of heroes mastering beasts, reflecting humanity's primal struggle with the animal world, a theme resonating in art across cultures. The bull, symbolizing strength and virility, becomes a vessel for transformation. The Mithraic mysteries, popular in the Roman Empire, offered initiates a path to spiritual rebirth, a theme deeply embedded in the collective psyche. Such imagery taps into deep wells of human emotion. The sacrifice, while violent, promises hope and renewal. This cycle of death and rebirth speaks to our subconscious understanding of life's inherent patterns. From ancient Persia to Rome, and resurfacing in the Renaissance, the image of Mithras continues to evolve, reflecting our enduring quest for meaning.