Moord op Agamemnon en Cassandra 1632 - 1633

This print by Theodoor van Thulden depicts the assassination of Agamemnon and Cassandra. Note the recurrence of the weapon: the axe. Its presence here is not merely incidental; it is a symbol laden with historical and psychological weight. The axe, a tool of primal force, echoes through time, surfacing in Minoan cult rituals, where double-headed axes were used in sacrificial rites. Fast forward to Renaissance Europe, and we find axes in the hands of executioners, symbols of state-sanctioned violence. The image of the axe, wielded in a moment of betrayal, taps into a deep well of collective memory. It is a stark reminder of the ever-present potential for violence that simmers beneath the surface of human interaction. The chaotic composition, mirroring the disorder of the crime itself, emotionally engages viewers on a subconscious level, stirring primal anxieties about betrayal and mortality. From ancient ritual to modern imagination, the axe persists as a potent symbol, constantly evolving and adapting to new cultural landscapes.