Vignet til Frederik V's Søkrigsartikelsbrev 1754 - 1758

This is an engraving by Odvardt Helmoldt de Lode for Frederik V's Søkrigsartikelsbrev. The image is dominated by the Danish coat of arms, topped with a crown, which suggests royal authority and divine sanction. Note the figures of the sea gods flanking the coat of arms. These figures, classical in form, evoke a connection to ancient mythology. We can see the recurrence of such figures throughout history; consider the Poseidon of ancient Greece, or even the maritime symbols adorning Renaissance maps. The trident, held by one of the sea gods, is an especially potent symbol, associated with power over the seas. These symbols aren't merely decorative. They tap into a primal, collective memory, resonating with subconscious associations of power, divinity, and the mysteries of the sea. It is a non-linear, cyclical progression of symbols, resurfacing, evolving, and taking on new meanings in different historical contexts.