Die Zauberer am Hof des babylonischen Königs Xerxes verfügen das Martyrium von Simon dem Zeloten und Judas Thaddäus 

This ink drawing by Boutard at the Städel Museum depicts the martyrdom of Simon the Zealot and Judas Thaddaeus at the court of King Xerxes. The act of beheading is stark, recalling ancient rituals of sacrifice. Consider the axe, its metallic gleam a mirror reflecting not only light but also the weight of history. The image of the executioner, the axe high above his head, poised to strike, transcends its immediate scene. Think of Holofernes in Caravaggio's rendition of Judith beheading him, or the beheadings during the French Revolution, where the guillotine became a symbol of terror and justice. The image resurfaces in countless forms, each echoing the others in a chain of cultural memory. It’s a reminder of the cyclical nature of violence and power, a motif that haunts the collective consciousness. The terror we feel is an echo of primal fears, a visceral reaction passed down through generations, reminding us of our shared mortality.