Drie figuren uit het Bijbelse Palestina 1719

This 1719 engraving depicts scenes from biblical Palestine, teeming with symbols ripe for exploration. Dominating the upper register is a figure reclining above the inscription 'Fl. Jordaan', which connects it to the river Jordan, a profound symbol of baptism and spiritual rebirth. But the figure’s languid pose echoes classical river gods, a motif carried through time from ancient Greece and Rome. Further back we see palm trees, which were revered in the ancient Near East. Consider the serpent, a symbol of temptation and knowledge, but also, paradoxically, of healing. Recall the caduceus of Hermes, where snakes intertwine around a staff, a potent emblem of medicine. We see this dichotomy reflected through time, from ancient myths to modern medical symbols. Such visual echoes resonate within us, stirring deep, often subconscious associations and imbuing images with a power beyond their immediate context. These symbols are not static; they evolve, resurface, and are reinterpreted across cultures and eras, demonstrating the enduring, cyclical nature of human expression.