Hemelkaart met de zuidelijke sterrenbeelden 1742

This star chart of the southern constellations is an engraving that emerged from an era of exploration and discovery. It attempts to map the night sky, filling it with mythological creatures. Look closely, and you'll see the serpent Hydra, a multi-headed monster defeated by Hercules. This symbol, born in ancient Greece, slithers through various cultures, often embodying chaos and untamed nature. Consider its earlier form as Apep in ancient Egypt, the serpent of the underworld who was the nemesis of light. The fear and awe it inspires taps into a deep, collective memory. The enduring presence of such symbols reflects our continuous attempt to understand the cosmos, but also to contain primal fears. The very act of mapping—whether stars or monsters—is a way to impose order on the unknown, revealing the powerful human need to master both the external world and our own internal landscapes.