Wapenschild met gekroonde adelaar en halve maan 1730

This is Bernard Picart’s engraving of a coat of arms, made around 1730. The crowned eagle and lions rampant evoke power, nobility, and dominion. The eagle, a symbol of imperial authority since Roman times, soars above a heraldic shield bearing a crescent moon— a potent symbol linked to ancient lunar deities. We see echoes of this celestial emblem in diverse cultures from the Near East to Byzantium. The lions, powerful and defiant, flank the arms. Lions feature prominently in heraldry and royal iconography across Europe. Think of the Lion Gate at Mycenae, guardians of the city's strength, and their later appearance in medieval bestiaries. These motifs, shaped by collective memory, resurface through history, each time imbued with new cultural significance. In dreams and myths, heraldic animals tap into our primal understanding of power, inspiring awe and dread in equal measure.