Ornament for Knife Handle 

Theodor de Bry created this ornamental design for a knife handle, teeming with symbolic imagery. On the left, we see a classical scene featuring Ceres, the goddess of agriculture, and Bacchus, the god of wine, representing sustenance and indulgence. Opposite, a biblical scene of hand-washing alludes to purification. These motifs have deep roots. Consider how similar figures of fertility and cleansing rituals appear in ancient Egyptian and Mesopotamian art. The flowing water, whether from a cornucopia or a ewer, carries a potent psychological weight, evoking the life-giving and transformative power of nature and spirituality. This image reminds us that symbols are never fixed; they evolve across cultures and epochs, reflecting our collective dreams, fears, and desires. These images persist, shape-shifting through time, as our subconscious grapples with universal themes of life, death, and rebirth.