Omnium fere gentium nostrae aetatis habitus, nunquam ante hac aediti 1569

This engraving by Ferando Bertelli, made in Venice in 1568, presents a symbolic gateway to knowledge. Note the figures flanking the central text, each laden with meaning. On the left, a female figure holds scales, a symbol of justice and balance, dating back to ancient Egyptian depictions of Ma'at. The figure on the right supports a water pitcher. Water has been used in countless cultures to symbolize purity, life, and renewal. She pours the water with a gesture of abundance, a symbol that reappears, for example, in Roman depictions of Fortuna, goddess of prosperity. These aren't mere decorations; they are conduits to a deeper understanding of human values. Justice and renewal aren't linear concepts, but rather cyclical themes that resurface time and again, each era reinterpreting them through the lens of its own collective consciousness. Through these images, we connect to the perennial human quest for balance and regeneration.