The Gesù, Rome, from the 'Speculum Romanae Magnificentiae:' 1589

This is Giovanni Ambrogio Brambilla's engraving of The Gesù in Rome. At its heart, we find the IHS Christogram—a motif of immense historical weight. Originally a simple abbreviation of Jesus' name in Greek, it evolved into a symbol embraced by the Society of Jesus, becoming emblematic of faith, redemption, and the divine made manifest. But let us not think its significance is confined to Christian theology alone. Consider how similar monograms and symbols have permeated cultures across millennia, from ancient Egyptian cartouches to Byzantine emblems, each serving as a potent visual shorthand for complex ideas and values. The Christogram, like these predecessors, taps into humanity's deep-seated need for symbolic representation, evoking a sense of continuity. The symbol resurfaces through time, embodying evolving spiritual and cultural meanings.