Neptune Contending with Four Winds [reverse] 1731

John Croker's medal presents Neptune, trident in hand, struggling against the four winds. This struggle is a potent symbol, evoking the mastery over nature and chaos. Consider how the trident, a symbol of power over the seas since ancient Greece, echoes in other depictions of authority. We see variations of this in Zeus's thunderbolt or even the scepters of kings, each a signifier of control, yet none so viscerally connected to the untamed elements. The winds themselves, often depicted as tempestuous figures, embody the unpredictable forces of nature. This echoes motifs found in ancient mythology, where gods and mortals alike grapple with elemental powers. Here, the subconscious dread of the unknown manifests, a primal fear made manifest in art. This cyclical struggle between order and chaos, power and submission, resurfaces through history. The medal serves as a reminder of humanity's ongoing negotiation with the forces that shape our world.