Plattegrond van Heilbronn, ca. 1702 1702 - 1703

This is an anonymous engraving from around 1702, presenting a map of Heilbronn, a town bisected by a river and surrounded by fortifications. Note the allegorical figures in the upper-left. The reclining man and woman, symbols of the city's spirit, evoke ancient river gods and fertile goddesses of antiquity. We see them again and again—in Roman fountains, Renaissance paintings, and even modern advertisements. The river itself becomes a symbol of life, change, and the relentless passage of time. This image taps into a deep cultural memory. The impulse to personify places, especially rivers, reflects our innate desire to connect with and understand the natural world. These symbols persist because they resonate with something fundamental within us—a collective unconscious that recognizes these archetypes across centuries. The recurring image of the river deity, and of mother earth shows how symbols return, transformed yet familiar, echoing through the corridors of time and culture.