Scipios sejrstog i Rom 1574

Tobias Stimmer's "Scipio's Triumphal Entry into Rome" is a woodcut teeming with symbols of power and victory. Dominating the foreground are the shields brandished by soldiers, emblazoned with the fearsome visage of the lion. In antiquity, this was a clear symbol of courage, strength, and royal power, meant to intimidate foes. Interestingly, we see similar leonine motifs in the medieval period, adorning the heraldry of noble houses. Even today, the lion persists in popular culture, from sports teams to national emblems. The psychoanalytic perspective would suggest that the persistence of the lion symbol stems from its activation of primal instincts. The collective memory of humanity associates the lion with dominance and raw, untamed power, a force engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level. Thus, the triumphant return of Scipio is not merely a historical event, but a cyclical, symbolic representation of power. This re-emergence echoes through time, adapting to new contexts, yet forever tethered to its ancient roots.