St. John, plate 4 from The Twelve Apostles 1545

Sebald Beham etched this representation of St. John, one of the Twelve Apostles, onto a metal plate. The figure of St. John is holding a chalice with a snake emerging from it, an iconic symbol tied to a legend where he drank from a poisoned cup but remained unharmed due to his faith. This motif, laden with potent religious connotations, transcends its immediate context. It is not merely about physical immunity but speaks to a deeper, spiritual resilience. The symbol of the snake, historically ambiguous, is here transformed from a sign of deceit into an emblem of divine protection. Think of the Rod of Asclepius, the ancient Greek symbol associated with medicine and healing. Its persistent reappearance underscores humanity's enduring fascination with the interplay of poison and remedy, life and death. These images echo through time, engaging our subconscious and reminding us of the cyclical nature of existence, where symbols are continually reborn, acquiring new layers of meaning with each iteration.