Juno in haar strijdwagen keert terug naar Olympus c. 1547 - 1550

Léon Davent created this print, "Juno in haar strijdwagen keert terug naar Olympus," featuring Juno, the Roman goddess of marriage, returning to Olympus in her chariot. The chariot, drawn by peacocks, is not merely decorative; it's a powerful symbol. In Greco-Roman tradition, the peacock is associated with Juno, representing vigilance and the all-seeing eye of the goddess. Consider how this image resonates with earlier depictions of goddesses in chariots, such as those found in ancient Near Eastern art. These motifs are not static; they evolve, reflecting changing cultural values. The peacock, initially a symbol of divinity and royalty, finds itself recontextualized. The collective memory embedded in these symbols engages viewers on a subconscious level. The image of a goddess in transit, moving between realms, evokes a sense of transformation and passage, something deeply ingrained in our cultural psyche. The cyclical progression of symbols like the peacock and the chariot remind us that history is not linear but a continuous process of reinterpretation and adaptation. These symbols resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings, echoing through time.