Christ Purifying the Temple, from Speculum passionis domini nostri Ihesu Christi 1507

This woodcut, made by Hans Schäufelein, depicts Christ driving the merchants from the temple. Note Christ's active pose as he raises a whip, a symbol of divine anger and authority. This act of purification resonates with ancient traditions of cleansing sacred spaces. Consider the recurring motif of the "temple," not just as a physical building, but as a symbol of the soul or the social order needing periodic reform. We see parallels in other times and places, like the Dionysian rituals of purification through ecstatic dance or the ancient Roman tradition of lustratio, where the city was ritually cleansed. The image suggests a cyclical pattern of corruption and renewal, constantly resurfacing throughout history. Just as the ouroboros, the snake that eats its own tail, represents endless return, this scene captures the eternal struggle to maintain purity in a world of shifting values. This is a vital, powerful scene that strikes at the heart of our collective psyche, engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level.