Plate 3: Emperor Tiberius on Horseback, from 'The First Twelve Roman Caesars' 1596

Antonio Tempesta etched this print of Emperor Tiberius on horseback as part of a series on the Roman Caesars. The horse, a symbol of power and nobility, carries Tiberius, adorned in armor. Consider the equestrian statue—a motif tracing back to antiquity. We see it in the Marcus Aurelius statue in Rome, an image of authority and imperial might. Yet, this symbol transforms across history. Think of Renaissance paintings where the horse becomes a symbol of courtly grace, or later, Romantic depictions where it embodies untamed nature. The enduring presence of the horse speaks to a deep-seated admiration for strength, control, and perhaps a longing for freedom. This image, passed down through generations, constantly reinvents itself, echoing in our collective memory. The horse, laden with symbolism, gallops through the corridors of time, forever carrying the weight of human ambition.