Fafner kills Fasolt 1910

Arthur Rackham crafted this illustration, depicting a scene of primal violence between the giants Fafner and Fasolt. The club, wielded with brutal force, transcends its simple form. It becomes an emblem of raw power and the desperate struggle for dominance. Consider how this motif echoes across time. Think of the club of Hercules, the hero's strength and triumph over chaos. But here, in Rackham's vision, the club represents not heroic victory, but fratricide, fueled by greed and betrayal. Such acts resonate deeply within the collective unconscious. The wielding of a weapon, the act of striking down a brother - these are archetypal themes that recur in myths and legends across cultures. It is the eternal return of Cain’s transgression, a reminder of the darkness that lurks within us all, resurfacing through generations, its meaning shifting with each retelling.