Relief of a large vase carried upon the fourth triumphal car (Festival of Bacchus.) Jupiter standing upon an altar; a chorus of seven nymphs - the Heliades, who are in the process of changing into trees - incline themselves before him. (Fol. l iii verso) 1499

Curator: This image depicts "Relief of a large vase carried upon the fourth triumphal car (Festival of Bacchus.) Jupiter standing upon an altar; a chorus of seven nymphs - the Heliades, who are in the process of changing into trees - incline themselves before him." Editor: My first impression is of a powerful transformation. There’s a real sense of metamorphosis, of humans becoming part of the natural world. Curator: Indeed. This anonymous work presents a powerful symbolic narrative. The Heliades, daughters of Helios, were transformed into poplar trees as they mourned the death of their brother Phaeton, which resonates with themes of grief and remembrance. Editor: The figure of Jupiter, though, seems to be positioned as a figure of authority presiding over this transformation, giving it a political or even religious dimension. Is this a celebration or a warning? Curator: Well, the procession hints at the spectacle and power associated with festivals, perhaps even legitimizing existing social hierarchies through classical imagery. It's a potent reminder of how mythology could be used to reinforce social structures. Editor: A stark reminder that even the most beautiful imagery is often steeped in the cultural and political realities of its time. Curator: And how symbols can hold multiple, sometimes contradictory, meanings throughout history.