Dit is het schip de Goude Leeuw / Een kiel / die in de voorige eeuw / Verscheide mael een ryke vragt / Heeft in ons vaderland gebragt 1781 - 1831

This engraving by Erve H. Rynders depicts the ship "The Goude Leeuw," laden with its rich cargo. Note the lion rampant emblazoned on the ship's stern. The lion, a potent symbol of strength and courage, appears throughout history, from ancient Mesopotamian reliefs to heraldic crests of European nobility. Consider the lion's evolution. In antiquity, it represented royal power; in medieval Europe, it symbolized valor. This persistent image reveals a deep-seated human fascination with power and authority. The Dutch Republic, during its Golden Age, embraced the lion to project an image of commercial might and maritime dominance, harnessing the animal’s primeval resonance to evoke feelings of national pride and economic prowess. The enduring appeal of the lion motif reflects our collective yearning for strength, a primal desire that transcends time and place, constantly resurfacing and adapting to new cultural landscapes.