Heilige Euphemia 1583 - 1587

Johann Sadeler I created this engraving, Heilige Euphemia, sometime between 1550 and 1601. Saint Euphemia is depicted holding a martyr’s palm and a lily, symbols of purity and triumph over death. The palm, rooted in ancient Roman iconography, signified victory and immortality, adopted by Christians to represent spiritual triumph. Note the lance she holds—a less common attribute, yet it echoes images of soldiers, bringing to mind the lance that pierced Christ. This motif harkens back to classical antiquity but becomes deeply embedded in Christian art to signify faith and sacrifice. Consider how, over centuries, the lance has appeared in images of Roman soldiers, then in the hands of saints, its form persisting, evolving into a symbol of spiritual strength. Here, it creates a tension, a deep-seated psychological conflict between violence and holiness, reflecting how our collective memory absorbs and transforms symbols, shaping new emotional and cultural meanings.