Book XXXIX.22. Taurilian games {Quarte Decadis Liber Nonus p. CCXLII} 1493

Editor: This is "Book XXXIX.22. Taurilian games" by an anonymous artist, held at the Harvard Art Museums. The raw energy jumps out, but what’s your perspective on this chaotic scene? Curator: This woodcut speaks volumes about the symbolic power of animals. Notice the bull—a frequent symbol of strength and virility—juxtaposed with predators. What emotions do these pairings evoke? Editor: Fear, maybe? The crowd seems like a silent, almost complicit, witness. Curator: Precisely. The arena is a stage where primal instincts and societal norms clash, echoing a cultural memory of dominance and submission. The image reminds us of the spectacle of power. Editor: So, it's more than just animals fighting; it reflects something deeper about us? Curator: Absolutely. The enduring fascination with these games reveals a darker side of human nature, a need to witness and perhaps vicariously experience power dynamics. Editor: That makes me see this image in a whole new, unsettling light. Curator: Indeed. Symbols often hold a mirror to our collective psyche.