Samson Carrying the Gate of Gaza, Maarten van Heemskerck, c. 1555
painting, h 46.6cm × w 15.9cm More details
Samson escaped his murderers by wrenching apart the city gate of Gaza hinges and all, and running up the hill. In Heemskerk’s time this scene was considered as the forerunner (prefiguration) of Christ’s resurrection from the dead. Hercules also triumphs over death here. He kills the centaur Nessus, whose poisonous blood would prove fatal to Hercules years later, resulting in his eternal life on Mount Olympus.
