Laërtes' huis aangevallen 1632 - 1633

This engraving by Theodoor van Thulden depicts an episode from the Odyssey, showcasing the attack on Laërtes' home. Note the motif of the aged, vulnerable figure being supported—a symbolic representation of protection and filial duty. We see Laërtes, the father of Odysseus, feeble and leaning on the arms of those who defend him. This echoes images of Aeneas carrying his father Anchises from Troy, a symbol of ancestral piety and the transfer of tradition. The act of carrying or supporting the elderly resurfaces through time, from classical depictions to Renaissance paintings, each instance imbued with the weight of responsibility and reverence for the past. This echoes not just physical support but the sustaining of cultural memory. Such images tap into a collective subconscious, evoking feelings of empathy, duty, and the inevitable cycle of life and death. The cyclical recurrence of this symbol highlights its enduring power.