Plate 9: Marine Bull, from "Various figures and doodles" (Diverses figures et griffonnemens) 1641 - 1651

Stefano della Bella etched this marine bull on a sheet of paper sometime in the 17th century. The image presents a peculiar chimera: a bull with the tail of a fish. The bull is one of the oldest symbols, often linked to fertility and power, dating back to ancient Minoan and Mesopotamian cultures. The fish, too, is ancient, representing the depths of the subconscious. Della Bella brings them together, reminding us of similar hybrid creatures found across cultures and times. Consider Oannes, the Babylonian god depicted as half-man, half-fish, who brought civilization to humanity. Or perhaps the sea goat of Capricorn in the Western Zodiac. The persistent recurrence of these figures suggests a deep-seated human need to reconcile the terrestrial with the aquatic, the rational with the instinctual. The marine bull, with its blend of virility and fluidity, remains a potent symbol, illustrating the cyclical journey of symbols across history.