Monument met obelisk en personificaties van de kardinale deugden 1597

This print presents a monument with an obelisk and personifications of cardinal virtues, created by an anonymous artist. Dominating the monument's apex is the obelisk, an ancient Egyptian symbol of the sun god Ra, appropriated by Roman emperors to signify their power and divinity. The statues embody cardinal virtues: Prudence, Justice, Temperance, and Fortitude. We see how the motif of the virtues is not unique to this time; the Greeks and Romans also celebrated virtues, often depicting them in similar allegorical forms. Justice, for example, carries the sword and scales, symbols echoing through medieval and Renaissance art. It is fascinating to note how cultures adopt and adapt symbols, shaping them to reflect new values and beliefs. The human psyche seems drawn to these archetypal representations of moral principles. The monument serves not only as a reminder of civic virtues but also as a testament to the enduring power of symbols to transcend time, resurfacing and evolving in new cultural contexts.