Apostel Mattias 1545 - 1548

This engraving of Apostle Matthias was made by Lambertus Suavius in the 16th century. Note the solemn figure of Matthias, draped in classical robes, holding a halberd. This is a symbol of his martyrdom, linking him to the suffering of Christ. The halberd, initially a medieval weapon, here transcends its martial origins, becoming an emblem of sacrifice. The upright posture and the way he holds the halberd, draws back to the classical contrapposto, a stance that conveys both balance and potential movement. Yet, in Matthias, the pose conveys a sense of pained resignation, of a man fated to meet a violent end for his beliefs. Consider how this symbol—the instrument of death transformed into a symbol of faith—reappears across centuries. Think of the cross itself, once a tool of torture, now a symbol of redemption. These transformations reveal our deep, subconscious need to find meaning in suffering, to elevate the mundane into the divine. Like a phoenix, symbols metamorphose, carrying the weight of history and the promise of renewal.