Allegorische voorstelling met Juno 1683 - 1733

Bernard Picart etched this Allegory with Juno. We find Juno, Queen of the Gods, reclining regally on a cloud, identified by her crown and accompanied by her symbolic peacock. Now, Juno’s scepter, wielded here by cherubic hands, evokes images of power and command. Yet, consider the scepter's transformation through time. In ancient Sumer, a similar staff symbolized divine authority, passed from kings as a mark of earthly dominion. This symbol transcends cultures, reappearing in Egyptian, Greek, and Roman iconography, each time imbued with local significance, connecting rule with divinity. The image resonates with a deep, subconscious understanding of authority, evoking a powerful emotional response tied to collective memory and a complex web of cultural continuity. This image reminds us that symbols do not remain static; they ebb and flow, taking on new forms.