Book XXVII.28. Battle at Salapia {Tertiae Decadis Liber Septimus p. CLIIII} 1493

Editor: This anonymous woodcut, "Book XXVII.28. Battle at Salapia," depicts a siege. It feels very direct, almost like a simple diagram. What symbols stand out to you in this scene? Curator: The ladder, of course, symbolizes aspiration, but here it's also a point of vulnerability, a precarious bridge between worlds. Notice how the figures on the walls brandish their weapons, a potent symbol of defiance. What memories do such symbols trigger? Editor: I see the figures defending their city as symbols of resistance against outside forces. Do you see any other potential readings? Curator: Consider the closed gate, a powerful symbol of exclusion and protection. Does it suggest anything about our own barriers, both physical and emotional, and the battles we wage to defend them? Editor: That gives me a lot to consider regarding the battles we all face. Thanks for your perspective. Curator: Indeed, symbols are never static; they resonate with different meanings across time and individual experience.