The Head of Cyrus brought to Queen Tomyris 1785 - 1789

Antoine Jean Duclos etched this image, now at the Met, depicting the moment Queen Tomyris avenges her son's death. The dominant image is the severed head of Cyrus being submerged in a bowl of blood, a potent symbol of revenge. The act of decapitation and the subsequent handling of the head carry profound historical and psychological weight. Consider how the motif of the severed head appears in various contexts, from the biblical story of Judith and Holofernes to the Celtic head cults, where heads were preserved and venerated. This recurring symbol speaks to deep-seated anxieties about power, death, and the control over one's enemies. The act is brutal and visceral, evoking strong emotional responses. It resurfaces through history, a constant reminder of the cyclical nature of violence and retribution, evolving in its representation but consistent in its emotional power.