The Horses of Achilles

James McArdell captured these "Horses of Achilles," mythical steeds, in an oil painting, their rippling muscles and fiery eyes emblems of untamed power. They are reminiscent of the steeds of Poseidon, a god whose energy also embodies both creation and destruction. Consider the horse: from the Paleolithic cave paintings at Lascaux to equestrian statues of emperors, the horse symbolizes nobility, vigor, and an indomitable spirit. Yet, in the Book of Revelation, death rides a pale horse. This reflects a duality, a dance between reverence and dread, echoing the psychological ambivalence we often feel towards power. In McArdell's vision, these horses are not mere animals; they are primal energies, a force that transcends time, resurfacing in our collective consciousness, evolving, and carrying new weight with each telling.