Runderen van Helios 1632 - 1633

Theodoor van Thulden created this print, "Cattle of Helios," sometime in the 17th century. At the heart of this scene, we witness the radiant god Helios ascending in his chariot, drawn by powerful steeds. This evokes the ancient Indo-European motif of the sun chariot, symbolizing the daily journey of light and the cycle of time. But notice how the cattle of Helios also play a crucial role. In antiquity, cattle were not merely livestock; they embodied wealth, power, and fertility. Their presence here reminds us of the deep connection between celestial order and earthly abundance. Consider how this bovine imagery echoes through time. From the sacred cows of ancient Egypt to the bull cults of Minoan Crete, the animal is laden with symbolic weight. This iconography resurfaces across cultures, revealing a primal human fascination with nature's generative forces. It is a testament to how symbols evolve, adapt, and persist in our collective consciousness.