Samson and the Lion, from the Story of Samson 1555 - 1585

Here we see an anonymous depiction of ‘Samson and the Lion,’ an engraving on a sheet of paper. The dominant motif is, of course, Samson wrestling the lion, a symbol of primal struggle and divine strength. Consider how this motif echoes through history. We see Hercules, another hero, grappling with the Nemean lion, a beast of similar symbolic weight. In both instances, the lion represents untamed forces, and the hero's victory signifies the triumph of order over chaos. The lion itself has undergone a curious metamorphosis. From a symbol of royal power in ancient Egypt, it becomes a representation of courage and ferocity. The act of wrestling with the lion taps into our collective unconscious— a deep-seated desire to conquer our fears and assert our dominance. This image resonates not merely as a story, but as a powerful force engaging us on a visceral, subconscious level. The narrative of man versus beast resurfaces time and again, each iteration adding new layers of meaning.