Hecuba Blinding Polymnestor 

Giuseppe Maria Crespi painted this scene of Hecuba blinding Polymnestor with oils on canvas. Hecuba is enacting a brutal revenge, blinding Polymnestor, who betrayed her by killing her son Polydorus. The act of blinding carries heavy symbolism across cultures. Eyes, as windows to the soul, signify knowledge and perception; their loss is a symbolic castration, a loss of power and understanding. We see echoes of this in the myth of Oedipus, who blinds himself upon realizing his horrific deeds. Consider the tale of Samson, whose blinding by the Philistines precedes his ultimate act of vengeance. This motif taps into our collective memory, stirring deep-seated fears of vulnerability and retribution. Hecuba's act is not just physical, but psychological: a primal scream against betrayal, echoing through the ages. As you gaze upon this scene, feel the weight of history, the cyclical nature of vengeance, and the enduring power of symbols to evoke our most profound emotions.