Heaven rung, With jubilee, and loud hosannas filled The eternal regions 

Gustave Doré created this scene of heaven, filled with jubilation, in an engraving. Dominating the upper register are God and Christ, enthroned on clouds, while below them, a multitude of angels descends, their wings spread wide in joyous flight. The cross carried by Christ is not merely an emblem of sacrifice. Recall ancient depictions of rulers holding scepters as symbols of power. Here, the cross becomes a similar signifier, transformed by faith and history. Consider how victory was depicted in ancient Rome, and how it is refigured in Christian art. The angels, with their serene faces and outstretched wings, evoke the classical image of Nike, the Greek goddess of victory. This is the survival of a symbolic formula, a visual language passed down through generations. Note how the emotional intensity of the engraving draws us into a realm of divine joy, an experience embedded deeply in our collective psyche, as we witness the eternal return and transformation of symbols.