hond, leeuw en olifant in een kooi 1602

This engraving by Antonio Tempesta, now held at the Rijksmuseum, freezes a scene of conflict: a dog, a lion, and an elephant locked in combat within a cage. The lion, king of beasts, and the elephant, symbol of wisdom and memory, are brought low by the dog, often seen as a symbol of loyalty, but here, of savage power. Consider the historical weight of such imagery; the motif of animal combat dates back to ancient Roman gladiatorial contests, spectacles of dominance over the natural world. Here, the dog’s victory over the lion echoes themes of the underdog overcoming the mighty, a narrative rife with psychological implications. This triumph resonates with the collective desire to subvert established hierarchies. The cage itself evokes the controlled, almost theatrical nature of this violence, turning primal instincts into public spectacle. Think how often, through history, we return to these symbols of conflict and control, each time re-evaluating our relationship with power, both external and internal. This image is a potent reminder of how deeply ingrained these primal dramas are in our shared psyche.