The Romans nearly Overpower the Army of Julius Civilis through the Treachery of a Batavian 1600 - 1613

Otto van Veen painted this scene of betrayal with oil on canvas. The Roman standards, emblazoned with "SPQR," Senatus Populusque Romanus, the Senate and People of Rome, were potent symbols of the Republic’s authority and military might. Consider how Julius Caesar himself employed such symbols to rally his troops, promising glory and plunder under the Roman banner. This standard's appearance is a stark contrast to the bare buttocks of the Batavian traitor. This indecent exposure, a motif of shame, harkens back to ancient fertility rites, where the baring of buttocks was thought to ward off evil. Yet here, it’s twisted into a symbol of betrayal. Notice its appearance in other contexts, such as depictions of the mocking of Christ, where the exposure signifies ultimate humiliation. In this painting, the emotional resonance lies in the dishonor of the traitor, a primal fear of betrayal that engages us on a subconscious level. Observe how this gesture resurfaces, evolving and taking on new meanings, yet ever retaining the potency of shame and exposure.