Begrafenis en lijkspelen van Patroclus 1710

This engraving by Bernard Picart, now in the Rijksmuseum, illustrates the funeral and funeral games of Patroclus. The artwork, made in the early 18th century, offers a window into the cultural values of the time, particularly around masculinity, honor, and remembrance. The scene is taken from Homer's *Iliad* and presents a dramatic tableau of mourning and ritual. The engraving underscores the epic's themes of male bonding and the cost of war, yet it also opens questions about the representation of power and sacrifice. Notice how the idealized male nudes contrast with the brutal reality of the funerary rites. Picart invites viewers to engage with both the glory and the tragedy of the Homeric world. Consider the emotional weight of Achilles' grief and rage, as translated into these stylized depictions. The image prompts us to reflect on how societies have historically processed trauma, sanctified violence, and memorialized the fallen.