Keizer Augustus, Ceres, Cybele en twee riviergoden 1659

This engraving presents us with a pantheon of figures adorning a title page, each laden with symbolic weight. Ceres, goddess of agriculture, stands with her sheaves, while Cybele, the Phrygian mother goddess, is recognizable by her mural crown. Two river gods recline below, symbols of the life-giving waters. But consider how the image of Cybele has traveled through time. From her origins in Anatolia, she journeyed to Greece, then Rome, each culture layering new meanings onto her form. The image of the maternal goddess resonates through epochs, echoing in the medieval veneration of Mary, or even in modern archetypes of motherhood. This continuity speaks to a deep, perhaps unconscious, human need for a nurturing, protective figure. The emotional power of these deities, their ability to evoke feelings of security, abundance, and protection, is not merely intellectual. It is an active force that engages us on a subconscious level. The cyclical progression of symbols, their resurfacing and adaptation, reveals a historical current connecting us to the emotional lives of those who came before.