Frederik III de Wijze van Saksen, door Maximiliaan aangesteld als algemeen stadhouder 1509

Hans Kraft the Elder crafted this silver medal in commemoration of Frederik III's appointment as governor. The most potent symbol here is the eagle, an emblem of power reaching far back into antiquity. The eagle, especially when rendered with spread wings, evokes images of Roman imperial authority. This iconography was deliberately revived during the Holy Roman Empire to stake a claim to the legacy of Rome. Yet, this symbol predates even Rome. We find it in ancient Mesopotamia, where the eagle was associated with gods and kings. The double-headed eagle, as seen here, became a complex symbol representing dual sovereignty, both temporal and spiritual authority intertwined. Consider how the image of the eagle has been appropriated, adapted, and imbued with fresh layers of meaning across time. It reappears, each time carrying echoes of its previous lives, resonating with our collective memory, demonstrating how symbols morph and resurface, eternally engaging viewers on a subconscious level.