Blazen van de zevende bazuin 1502

This engraving, made around 1500 by Ieronimus Greff von Frankfurt, presents a vision of the Apocalypse, replete with potent symbols. Above, God sits in judgment, surrounded by angels, while below, a multi-headed beast emerges, embodying chaos. An angel stands on the crescent moon, a complex symbol, both representing the Virgin Mary but also carrying pagan lunar symbolism. The seven-headed beast, a clear reference to the Book of Revelation, evokes the monstrous Hydra of Greek mythology. This convergence reveals the enduring power of archetypes. Throughout history, the serpent has been a symbol of evil and temptation. From the Garden of Eden to ancient Egyptian beliefs, the serpent embodies primal fears and subconscious desires. Its cyclical shedding of skin is a mirror for life, death and rebirth, evoking our most primal instincts. Such imagery, rooted in cultural memory, touches our deepest psychological chords. It is a testament to the non-linear, cyclical progression of symbols. They resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings in different historical contexts, endlessly transformed.