Plate 2: Ops standing in a niche with her hands at her breasts, looking to her left, with animals behind her, from "Mythological Gods and Goddesses" 1526

This engraving by Giovanni Jacopo Caraglio depicts Ops, a Roman goddess of fertility, standing in a niche. Her hands are at her breasts, a gesture seen across cultures as a symbol of nourishment and maternal care. This motif of holding or exposing the breasts appears in various forms throughout history. Think of the Ephesian Artemis with her multiple breasts, or even the Virgin Mary lactans. The act transcends mere physicality; it touches upon profound psychological connections to motherhood and sustenance. In antiquity, the lion, the deer, and the goat were sacred animals associated with the divine feminine and the generative powers of nature. Reflect upon how this symbolic language evolves. A mother’s gesture remains a constant, yet its interpretation shifts, shaped by societal norms and religious contexts. The recurrent use of this powerful image taps into our collective unconscious, evoking primal emotions related to nurturing and life-giving forces. These archetypes resonate deeply within us, carrying layers of meaning that persist through time.