Saint Bernardino of Siena Preaching 

Lo Scheggia painted ‘Saint Bernardino of Siena Preaching’, showing the saint holding a sun-like disc emblazoned with ‘IHS’, a Christogram symbolizing Jesus. This symbol of the sun, radiating divine light, re-emerges through history. Think of Apollo, the Greek sun god, or the Egyptian sun deity Ra, shining across millennia, each culture imbuing it with their unique understanding of power and enlightenment. The Christogram, initially a simple abbreviation, transformed into a beacon during Saint Bernardino's sermons, promising salvation. Observe how the image has morphed. In pre-Christian times, the sun might represent raw power; here, it is channeled, domesticated into an emblem of faith. The collective subconscious sees the sun—a life-giver, now also a spiritual guide. This isn’t merely iconography; it’s an emotional appeal, a deeply ingrained memory. Symbols are never still; they are restless wanderers in the human psyche.