Albrecht en Isabella van Oostenrijk, aanwezig bij het papegaaischieten te Brussel 1615

This bronze medal depicts Archduke Albrecht and Isabella of Austria, commemorating their presence at the "papegaaischieten" or the shooting of the parrot in Brussels. The reverse is rich with symbols: a crowned coat of arms, crossbows aimed, and a lion. The lion is a powerful symbol, deeply embedded in our collective memory. From ancient Mesopotamia to the heraldry of European royalty, it signifies courage, strength, and nobility. Here, the lion likely represents the power and authority of the Habsburg rulers in the region. The crossbows represent a sport associated with civic militias and celebrations, representing community identity. Consider how these symbols have migrated and transformed across cultures and centuries. The lion, for instance, appears in the Bible, associated with both royalty and divinity, then resurfaces in medieval bestiaries as a symbol of Christ. These shifting meanings reveal the complex and dynamic nature of cultural memory, a non-linear, cyclical progression where symbols resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings in different historical contexts.