This story was written with the assistance of an AI writing program.
I keep experimenting with art, the Bible and traditions. I’m interested in understanding how an Artificial Intelligence interprets the 4 horsemen of the Apocalypse. They are 4 mythological figures, linked to the Christian apocalyptic books. Each knight rides a horse of a different color (white, red, black and pale). The only knight called by name is the fourth, “Death”. Each carries a different instrument:
The first, the white knight, holds a bow and wears a crown
Then I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, “Come.” I looked, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.
The second, the red knight, wields a large sword
When He broke the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come.” And another, a red horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from Earth, and that men would slay one another; and a great sword was given to him.
The third, the black knight, carries a scale with him
When He broke the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, “Come.” I looked, and behold, a black horse; and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard something like a voice in the center of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; but do not damage the oil and the wine.”
The fourth, the cadaverous knight, “Death”, and is the only one without a weapon
When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come.” I looked, and behold, a pale horse; and he who sat on it had the name Death; and Hades was following with him. Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by the wild beasts of the earth.
Hell follows them.
Something quite peculiar about this description is the first horseman. It is white in color, generally the color associated with Christ. And he is a victorious knight, and would be the only force of evil capable of winning against the forces of good. These characteristics allow us to interpret this biblical figure in various ways.
But that’s not what I want to talk about today.
I’m interested in finding out how an Artificial Intelligence can represent the apocalypse.
The AI has some difficulty drawing the horses, but the overall effect is definitely intriguing. Shows the horrific aspect of the 4 horsemen. Imagining seeing these 4 beings riding through the streets of a modern city gives goosebumps.
But it can also be interesting to find out what the 4 horsemen of the Apocalypse look like when taken one at a time. The White Knight, for example, is a much more reassuring figure:
The story changes if we go to see the other riders. The red knight can be represented in different ways but fire seems to be his distinctive trait
The black knight, on the other hand, amazed me. I was expecting something more epic, more medieval. But the AI has chosen a knight who almost looks like a ninja. And it made the scale disappear. I don’t know if it’s a mistake or if the AI intentionally wanted to represent a knight who does not carry the scales of justice with him.
Finally, the last knight, the pale one, Death. Also in this case I was expecting something more “classic”. Like the old lady with the scythe in her hand. Instead, the AI offers a roundup of skeletal and deformed monsters. As if they had come out of a nightmare.
Which then, thinking about it, is exactly what the 4 horsemen are, the nightmare of the end of the world generated by the ugliness of humanity.
Thanks for reading! Stay tuned for more.
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