Minerva, Hercules en Faam met wapenschild 1659 - 1700

Godfried Maes created this intriguing etching, featuring Minerva, Hercules, and Fame, sometime between 1649 and 1700. Here, Minerva, goddess of wisdom and strategic warfare, sits calmly, while Hercules, the epitome of strength, supports a shield, crowned by Fame sounding her trumpet. Shields have always been more than mere defense; they are emblems of power and lineage, resonating with ancestral memory. Think of Achilles’ shield in the *Iliad*, each emblem carefully chosen and forged, bearing the weight of a hero’s destiny. Fame blowing a trumpet is a classical motif seen as early as ancient Roman coins. Heralding achievements, her blare is a call to remember. It is interesting to note how similar motifs are woven throughout the ages: In the Renaissance, similar trumpeting figures announced victories and virtues. In the collective psyche, trumpets evoke triumph, piercing the veil of time. These symbols are not static; they evolve, adapt, and re-emerge. What Maes presents us with is a tableau of enduring human aspirations, echoing through history, still resonating today.