Viering van de ondergang van het Egyptische leger 1586

This engraving by Julius Goltzius, made around 1586, depicts the biblical triumph over the Egyptian army. Here, we observe the symbolic drowning of Pharaoh's forces in the Red Sea, juxtaposed with the jubilant celebration of Miriam and the Israelite women on the shore, complete with musical instruments. The motif of celebratory music appears across cultures, from ancient Greek processions to Renaissance festivals, each time marking moments of collective catharsis and triumph. Consider the lyre, played here, echoing the instrument of Apollo, a symbol of harmony and order. Yet, here, it commemorates destruction. This duality reveals how symbols are not fixed but fluid, adapting to the emotional and psychological needs of different eras. The image serves as a reminder of how collective memory shapes our understanding and expression of triumph, continually resurfacing and evolving through time.