Titelvignet til et søkort: "Pass Kaart over Kattegatet" 1799

J.F. Clemens rendered this title vignette for a sea chart of the Kattegat with graphite, sometime before 1831. Here, ancient deities preside over the marine landscape. Neptune, god of the sea, and possibly Amphitrite, his wife, guide their chariot, drawn by fantastical sea creatures, while crowned with the royal cypher. The god-like figure has recurred throughout history, embodying control over the natural world. Consider, for example, the Poseidon of Artemision, a bronze sculpture from ancient Greece, where the god’s poised stance and commanding gesture assert dominance. This motif has been carried down through time, shifting from religious icon to symbolic representation of power. The persistence of this archetype reveals our collective fascination with control over the volatile forces of nature. The presence of these gods reflects a deep-seated desire for command and safety, resonating even in the subconscious. The symbolic evolution of Neptune embodies how cultural memory and inherited symbols reflect our emotional and psychological relationship with the environment. The gods do not die; they transform.