Verovering van San Salvador door de Spanjaarden, 1625 1625 - 1627

This engraving by Frans Hogenberg, made in 1625, depicts the Spanish conquest of San Salvador. The walled city, the ships bristling with weaponry, and the prominent cross atop a hill are potent symbols of power, faith, and territorial claim. The cross, in particular, resonates deeply within the collective unconscious. We see it echo across time, from the ancient Roman standards to its adoption as a symbol of Christian dominion, carried by conquistadors like a banner of divine right. Think of the psychological weight it bore for both the colonizers and the colonized – a beacon of salvation for some, a mark of subjugation for others. Consider how such symbols evolve, their meanings twisting and turning through history. This image is a mirror reflecting not only a historical event, but also the complex, often contradictory, narratives we weave around power, religion, and conquest. The emotional charge remains potent, capable of stirring profound feelings of pride, sorrow, or outrage, depending on one's perspective. This is the cyclical nature of symbols.