Celebration of a Circumcision from the frieze Ces Moeurs et fachons de faire de Turcz (Customs and Fashions of the Turks) 1553

This frieze, documenting Turkish customs, was created by Pieter Coecke van Aelst. Focus your attention on the repetition of figures, the gestures of embrace, and the communal gathering. These are not unique to this scene; they echo across cultures and centuries. Think of the embrace—a motif found in ancient Roman sarcophagi, symbolizing familial love, or the gathering, reminiscent of religious processions. Are these visual echoes merely coincidental, or do they suggest a deeper, shared human experience? These gestures tap into our collective memory, a reservoir of emotions and archetypes inherited across generations. Consider the psychological weight of witnessing such an unfamiliar ritual. What are the emotions that this scene evokes? Van Aelst's composition engages us on a subconscious level, tapping into shared human experiences of community, tradition, and ritual, demonstrating the cyclical nature of symbols. These resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings in differing historical contexts.