Filistijnen plaatsen de wapens en het hoofd van Saul in de tempel van Ashtoret 1530 - 1533

This is an engraving depicting the Philistines placing the weapons and head of Saul in the temple of Ashtoret. Note the severed head atop the column; it echoes the ancient practice of displaying trophies of war. This motif, steeped in ritual and dominance, transcends cultures, appearing on Roman triumphal arches, Aztec pyramids, and medieval tapestries. The display of power through the conquered, though, invariably reveals a deeper psychological impulse: a confrontation with mortality and a desperate attempt to assert control over fate. The triumphant gesture of pointing, seen here, also has roots in antiquity. This symbolic directionality evokes the power of command. Yet, observe how the gesture evolves—from the pharaoh’s scepter to the general's sword. The symbol is not static; it morphs, adapts, and reappears in various guises, each echoing its origin while reflecting the fears and aspirations of a new age. It is a continual dance of past and present, forever reshaped by our collective memory.