Gathering of various Olympian gods and mythological figures among clouds, Apollo at center with his lyre, Vulcan, Mercury, Hercules, and Hermes to right, various figures below, horses and attendants behind in center, from 'Giove che fulmina li giganti', after the frescoes on the ceiling of the Sala dei Giganti designed by Giulio Romano for the Palazzo del Te, Mantua 1675 - 1685

This print by Pietro Santi Bartoli captures the fresco on the ceiling of the Sala dei Giganti, designed by Giulio Romano. It shows a gathering of Olympian gods among the clouds, with Apollo, lyre in hand, at the center. Here, the assembly of gods is a display of power, a concept that has roots in ancient mythology and resurfaces throughout art history. The lyre that Apollo holds, a symbol of harmony and order, appears across cultures, from ancient Greek pottery to Renaissance paintings. Observe the emotional intensity in the figures' faces, a theatrical expression that mirrors the drama of the depicted scene. This exaggerated emotional display, a kind of "pathos formula," evokes the same deep psychological responses that we see in Hellenistic sculpture. Notice how the theme of divine power has resurfaced, evolved, and taken on new meanings in different historical contexts. The enduring presence of these symbols reveals a continuous thread connecting the past and present.