Fontein van Neptunus op Place Stanislas te Nancy before 1896

This striking photograph captures the Fountain of Neptune in Nancy, with the god of the sea himself towering above a cascade of water. The trident he wields—a symbol of power over the marine realm—is not merely an attribute but a visual echo resonating through time. Consider the sceptre, that ancient symbol of authority wielded by kings and gods across civilizations. From Zeus with his thunderbolt to the Pharaohs with their staffs, the trident’s three prongs stab into our collective memory, invoking ideas of dominion and control. These symbols speak to our subconscious, a primal recognition of power and order. The rhythmic rise and fall, the surge and retreat, all evoke profound emotions, connecting us to the ceaseless rhythms of nature. The image of the fountain is a powerful reminder of how symbols persist, evolving through time, constantly re-emerging to shape our understanding and stir our souls.