Syrie, from "Jeu de la Géographie" 1644

Stefano della Bella created this print, titled “Syrie,” as part of a geography game. The figure embodies Syria, holding a staff topped with a pennant, dressed in flowing robes and an elaborate headdress. The staff is a symbol of power and authority, its roots stretching back to ancient scepters and royal staffs. We see echoes of this motif in countless images of rulers and deities throughout history. Consider how, in ancient Egypt, pharaohs were depicted holding a crook and flail, emblems of their dominion. This gesture speaks to a primal human need for order and control, visualized through the emblem of the staff. The image touches something deep within us, a resonance with symbols of authority and the projection of human will onto the world. This non-linear progression of the symbol has resurfaced, evolved, and taken on new meanings in different historical contexts.