Fontein met Neptunus 1745

Georg Sigmund Rösch created this print of a fountain with Neptune, likely in the mid-18th century. Here, Neptune, trident in hand, reigns supreme over the aquatic realm, embodying power and dominion over the seas. The trident, his iconic attribute, extends far back into antiquity; we see it in the hands of Poseidon on ancient Greek pottery, a symbol of not only control over the waters but also the capacity to stir up storms and earthquakes. It echoes the lightning bolt of Zeus, his brother, suggesting a shared authority and primal force. Consider how this symbol has been adopted, adapted, and transformed. From religious iconography to heraldic emblems, the trident resurfaces, charged with new layers of meaning, yet always resonating with an undertone of potent energy. This image taps into a deep, collective memory, evoking the awe and terror that the sea has inspired across millennia.