Filippus de apostel 1614

This engraving of Philip the Apostle was made by Dietrich Kruger around the turn of the 17th century. Here, Philip holds a Latin cross, his primary attribute, which denotes his martyrdom by crucifixion. You will also notice a book, referring to his evangelical mission. But look closer. This cross is not merely an emblem of death. Its verticality evokes the axis mundi, a symbolic center connecting the earthly and divine realms. The cross, thus, becomes a symbol of ascension, a bridge between mortality and eternity, reminiscent of ancient world trees. We see echoes of this in earlier depictions of the Tree of Life and later in Christian iconography. Such motifs speak to our deepest fears and hopes. They appear again and again, evolving yet retaining their primal force. The cross, once a brutal instrument, is now a beacon, illustrating the cyclical nature of symbols and their potent effect on the collective psyche.