Loading...
Journal Title
Readers/Advisors
Kaplan, Paul H.
Journal Title
Term and Year
Spring 2025
Publication Date
2025
Book Title
Publication Volume
Publication Issue
Publication Begin
Publication End
Number of pages
Collections
Files
Loading...
9846_David_Whitmer.pdf
Adobe PDF, 16.08 MB
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Abstract
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalpyse, a woodcut by Albrecht Dürer finished in 1498 amongst an image and text series labeled Apocalypsis cum Figuris. In this essay I explore the weapons and possibly that Dürer had inspiration from Classical ideals pertaining to the iconography of the Horsemen. Each of the Horsemen Conquest, War, Pestilence, and Death have weaponry similar to Roman gods and their attributions. Conquest with bow and crown, much like Apollo Roman god of the sun. War with with his sword as compared to Mars Roman god of war. Pestilence's attribute of a scale is common amongst Dürer oeuvre, and is seen as an attribute of Mercury, messenger of the gods. And finally, Death's attribute of a pitchfork can be seen to represent two Roman gods, Neptune god of the sea, and Pluto god of the Underworld. I further discuss how these Roman deities are used as a metaphor to the ideology of the Catholic religion. These Four Horsemen, if they are Roman deities represent that the end of the Catholic religion and the reign of the older gods is equivalent to the end of the world; the Apocalypse.
Citation
DOI
Description
Accessibility Statement
Purchase College - State University of New York (PC) is committed to ensuring that people with disabilities have an opportunity equal to that of their nondisabled peers to participate in the College's programs, benefits, and services, including those delivered through electronic and information technology. If you encounter an access barrier with a specific item and have a remediation request, please contact lib.ir@purchase.edu.