Het gevecht hervat 1710

Bernard Picart’s engraving presents a scene dominated by Jupiter’s thunderbolts striking amidst a chaotic battle. Here, lightning is not merely a natural phenomenon; it symbolizes divine intervention, reflecting Jupiter’s power to influence human affairs. This motif of a deity wielding lightning recurs throughout history. Think of Zeus, Jupiter’s Greek counterpart, or even earlier Mesopotamian storm gods. In each case, the lightning bolt is a powerful, fear-inducing symbol of authority and cosmic order. Yet, its meaning has never been static. In some eras, it’s a symbol of purification; in others, of destruction and punishment. Consider the psychological impact: the sudden, violent flash of lightning taps into primal fears. It embodies the unpredictable and uncontrollable forces that have shaped human consciousness since the dawn of time. The engraving, therefore, is not just a depiction of a mythological event but an activation of deeply rooted, collective memories.