Plate 5: The Defeat of the Ethiopians, from 'The Battles of the Old Testament,' 1585 - 1615

This etching, crafted by Antonio Tempesta around the turn of the 17th century, depicts the defeat of the Ethiopians in a scene teeming with soldiers, horses, and the instruments of war. The spear, a recurring motif, pierces through the image, symbolizing power, authority, and the brutal reality of conflict. The spear is more than just a weapon; it’s a phallic symbol, an assertion of dominance. Think back to classical antiquity, to the lances of Roman legionaries or the spears of Greek warriors. This symbol stretches even further back in time, to cave paintings. Here, we see the hunter with his spear, a primal image of survival and conquest. Over time, the spear's meaning has shifted. It went from a simple tool to a symbol of military might, and from military might to the modern-day representation of national pride. The collective memory of war, etched into our subconscious, makes the image of the spear a potent force, stirring deep emotions and connecting us to the long, often violent, march of human history. The spear, therefore, is a cultural artifact, a memory trace, constantly resurfacing in new contexts, reminding us of our past and shaping our present.