Dood van Polyxena before 1571

This is Pieter Jalhea Furnius's engraving, showing the death of Polyxena. The image is dominated by the act of sacrifice, a practice deeply rooted in ancient cultures. Consider the upraised sword. It is not merely a weapon; it's a symbol of power, justice, and the ultimate surrender to fate. We see this motif echoed across time. Think of Caravaggio’s "Judith Beheading Holofernes," where the sword is wielded with a similar blend of brutality and purpose. The act of beheading itself carries a potent psychological charge. It represents not just physical death but also the severing of identity, the ultimate loss of self. Throughout history, this image of sacrifice has resurfaced, each time imbued with new layers of meaning, reflecting our collective subconscious fears and fascinations with mortality and power.