Apostel Judas Taddeüs met hellebaard 1517 - 1527

Marcantonio Raimondi etched this image of the Apostle Jude Thaddeus sometime between 1475 and 1534. We see Jude holding a halberd, a weapon that seems at odds with his role as a disciple of peace. The halberd is not just a weapon; it is a symbol of Jude’s martyrdom. Yet, such symbols are never isolated; they echo through time. Consider the halo above Jude's head. It is a visual declaration of divinity, a motif tracing back to ancient sun gods. The halo then reappears in early Christian art to denote holiness, yet here, in Raimondi's work, the halo subtly merges pagan and Christian symbolism. The weapon as a signifier of both death and defiance also appears in images of Mars, the god of war. These symbols persist and transform, resonating in our collective memory. Jude’s gaze, stoic and serene, invites contemplation, urging us to confront the complex interplay of faith, sacrifice, and the enduring power of symbols.