Kichik Beg Wounded during Babur's Attack on Qalat, from a copy of the Baburnama (Book of Babur) c. 1590

This Mughal painting illustrates a scene from the Baburnama, focusing on Babur’s attack on Qalat. We see a fierce battle, bodies scattered, arrows flying, a chaotic yet meticulously detailed scene. Central to the composition are the archers. The archer appears across cultures from ancient Egypt to medieval Europe and beyond, each arrow carrying not just physical force, but also symbolic weight: destiny, intent, death. Think of Cupid’s arrow, or the arrows of the Greek god Apollo, symbols of love and divine power. Here, each arrow represents a fated moment, underscoring the intensity of this battle. The archer’s stance and focused expression tap into our primal understanding of conflict, a shared human experience across millennia. This image engages us on a subconscious level, evoking the universal themes of struggle, survival, and the psychological impact of warfare. It resonates with a collective memory of conflict. Ultimately, the image invites us to reflect on how symbols of aggression and defense have persisted, transformed, and continue to provoke profound emotional responses, binding us to the past.