Allegory of March – Triumph of Minerva and Sign of Aries. Frescos in Palazzo Schifanoia (detail) 1470

Francesco del Cossa painted this fresco of the Allegory of March in the Palazzo Schifanoia, capturing the astrological sign of Aries with a recumbent ram adorned with stars. The ram, a potent symbol, is no stranger to our collective memory, evoking images from ancient mythologies to religious traditions. We recall the Golden Fleece, a symbol of wealth and kingship, or the sacrificial ram in Abraham’s tale, representing divine intervention and salvation. Yet, here, the ram is no longer a symbol of sacrifice or heroism, but rather an emblem of a specific time, a period of rebirth and renewal. Consider how this symbol has journeyed through time, its meaning shifting with cultural tides. The stars, once guides for ancient mariners and astrologers, now punctuate the ram's body, grounding it within the celestial sphere. This representation taps into our subconscious recognition of the cosmos as an ordered system, offering a sense of control in a chaotic world. Such imagery invites us to contemplate the cyclical nature of symbols, forever resurfacing in new guises, resonating with our deepest emotional and psychological selves.