Gezicht op de Speeltoren te Monnickendam 1892

This engraving presents us with a rich tapestry of symbols, drawn from classical antiquity, made by an anonymous artist. At the top, Jupiter, king of the gods, rides his eagle, clutching a bundle of lightning bolts. This scene represents power, divine authority, and the capacity to impact earthly events with cosmic forces. But let us not be too quick to accept this imagery as merely mythological. Consider how the eagle, a symbol of Jupiter, reappears throughout history. From the Roman Empire to modern heraldry, it embodies strength and dominance. Its presence here, intertwined with the figure of Jupiter, evokes a primal, perhaps even subconscious, association with leadership and control. The motif has resurfaced time and time again, evolving from divine emblem to a secular assertion of power. This is no linear progression, but rather a cyclical return, as the past informs the present. The emotional weight of such symbols, carried across centuries, continues to engage us on a profound level.