Triomf processie met gevangenen, soldaten, lictors en priesters 1618

This engraving of a triumphal procession was created by Onofrio Panvinio in the mid-16th century. Panvinio was an Italian historian and antiquarian whose work often depicted aspects of ancient Roman life and culture. The image is dominated by a line of figures in a procession. On the left, we see prisoners of war, defeated and bound, followed by soldiers, lictors, and priests, all symbols of Roman military and political power. Latin inscriptions above the figures describe elements of the scene, such as the captured people, the crowns awarded to triumphant emperors, and the incense that perfumes the air. The print offers a glimpse into how the Romans idealized military conquest and celebrated victory. At the same time, it reveals the human cost of imperial expansion, reminding us that one group's triumph often comes at the expense of another's suffering. The emotional weight of this truth lingers in the defeated gazes of the captives. The procession makes visible the hierarchies of Roman society, inviting us to consider who is included in this vision of power and who is excluded.