Personificatie van het Perzische Rijk 1582 - 1671

Heinrich Ulrich created this engraving, Personification of the Persian Empire. The central figure is an allegorical representation of Persia, armed with a spear and shield. The inclusion of the bear is particularly striking, its jaws clamped around the heads of two figures. The bear is a symbol of strength but also brutality. We see echoes of this motif in antiquity, where animals often symbolized primal forces. In some Northern European traditions, the bear embodies courage and ferocity, qualities often associated with ruling powers. The image of devouring echoes through time—consider the Roman depiction of Saturn devouring his children, an allegory of time's destructive power. The bear's act of devouring can be interpreted as a psychological manifestation of power, where the anxiety of influence is externalized. This engraving is a potent reminder of the cyclical nature of power. These symbols resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings in different historical contexts.