Stellage met riviergoden, 1599 1599

This is a sixteenth-century engraving, "Stellage met riviergoden," made by an anonymous artist. It presents us with river gods, a potent symbol that flows through the currents of time. Here, male and female figures recline, flanking large vessels that pour out endless streams—symbols of fertility and abundance, vital to the prosperity of a city. This evokes images of ancient Mesopotamia, where rivers were worshipped as givers of life, and echoes in classical sculptures of river deities, often depicted with similar attributes. Above, note the eagle, a recurring symbol of power, gazing back to ancient Roman imperial imagery. The continual re-emergence of these classical symbols reminds us that the emotional and psychological weight of images transcends time. They tap into our collective memory, a constant reminder of humanity’s ongoing relationship with nature, power, and the life-giving waters. These images, like rivers themselves, flow and change, shaping our cultural landscape.