Oprichting van een monument, ontworpen door Karl Friedrich Schinkel ter herdenking van de overwinning op Napoleon 1820 - 1821

This medal, designed by Karl Friedrich Schinkel, commemorates the victory over Napoleon, a potent symbol of restored order. The monument depicted rises assertively, a triumphal column echoing ancient Roman precedents, yet imbued with a distinctly Prussian spirit. The column as a symbol transcends time. Think of Trajan's Column, celebrating Roman military might, or even the obelisks of ancient Egypt, reaching towards the heavens. Here, the monument taps into that shared visual language of power and endurance. This reaching for the sky, this phallic assertion, isn’t merely about victory. It is a deep-seated expression of collective will, an almost subconscious desire to overcome and assert dominance. Consider how such symbols evolve. The swastika, for instance, once a benign sign of good fortune, was twisted and corrupted by the Nazis. Similarly, the triumphal column, once a celebration of civic virtue, can become a symbol of oppressive power, a chilling reminder of how easily our collective memory can be manipulated. These symbols remind us that history is not linear but cyclical. They resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings, shaped by the ever-shifting tides of human experience.