Allegorie op de deugd met Gerechtigheid (Justitia) geflankeerd door Tijd (Tempus) en Liefdadigheid (Caritas) 1603

Lucas Kilian created this allegory of virtue with justice, time, and charity in Augsburg. Dominating the composition is Justitia, or Justice, holding aloft her scales, while Tempus, or Time, brandishes the radiant sun, and Caritas, or Charity, is surrounded by children symbolizing love and abundance. The figure of Justice, blindfolded and balancing scales, evokes ancient Roman ideals of law and order. Yet, we find similar figures across cultures, embodying the collective desire for fairness. The 'scales of justice' as a motif, can be traced back to ancient Egyptian depictions of souls being weighed to determine their worthiness for the afterlife. Note how Kilian's figure of Tempus holds a sun with a face. This echoes the Greek god Helios driving his sun chariot across the sky, a potent symbol of cyclical renewal. Observe the emotional power of this image, engaging viewers with timeless themes of morality, time, and love. It speaks to our collective memories, tapping into subconscious understanding of cultural symbols and how they continue to evolve.