Optocht van de koningin van Pattani, 1602 1644 - 1646

This 1602 engraving, "Procession of the Queen of Pattani," presents a vivid display of power through carefully chosen symbols. The elephants here, bearing the Queen and other figures, are more than mere carriers; they are ancient symbols of royalty, wisdom, and strength. The palm trees, too, speak of distant lands and exotic riches. Consider the elephant, an age-old symbol of might, appearing in ancient Indian art and later, Hannibal's military campaigns, each time carrying the weight of empire and dominance. Note, too, the procession itself. It echoes the triumphal entries of Roman emperors, adapted here to convey the Queen's authority. The engraving thus acts as a stage where the symbols and archetypes combine to create a spectacle of power, revealing how the image has resurfaced across cultures, adapting to new settings while retaining its deep psychological roots in our collective memory.