Illustration to the Iliad 1795

John Flaxman etched this illustration to the Iliad in 1793, capturing a scene imbued with potent symbols. Here we witness armed warriors alongside divine archers, a powerful synthesis of martial prowess and celestial intervention. Consider the bow, wielded by Apollo and Artemis. This weapon transcends mere hunting; it embodies the far-reaching power of the gods, capable of inflicting plague and pestilence, as Homer recounts. We see its echo in depictions of Cupid, and even further back, in ancient Near Eastern depictions of deities wielding bows as symbols of dominion. The psychological impact of these images is profound. The focused intent of the archers, the clash of arms—they stir within us a primal recognition of conflict and the forces that shape human destiny. These archetypes are not confined to ancient Greece; they resurface in art and myth across cultures, continually re-emerging in our collective consciousness, a testament to their enduring power.