Scipios sejrstog i Rom 1574

This is Tobias Stimmer's woodcut depicting Scipio's triumphal return to Rome. Notice the repetition of circular motifs: the shields of the soldiers, and the wheels of the chariot, symbols of protection and cyclical time. The soldiers carry shields emblazoned with the face of a lion. This bestial image connects back to ancient symbols of courage and royalty, like the lion-headed goddess Sekhmet of Egypt. Consider how this potent symbol of power, rooted in primal instinct, reappears across millennia. We see it again during the Renaissance, like here, adopted to convey the might and valor of military leaders. The collective subconscious imbues the lion with awe and fear, triggering deep psychological responses. Stimmer uses this iconography to tap into the viewer’s primal understanding of authority and strength, showing how cultural memory shapes our perception of visual symbols. The triumph, eternal and ever-relevant.