Illustration til Adam Olearius, “Persianischer Rosenthal von einem Sinnreichen Poeten Schich Saadi […]”, Schleswig 1660 1660

This engraving by J. Muller, created in Schleswig in 1660, illustrates Adam Olearius's "Persianischer Rosenthal," drawing from the poet Saadi's work. Here, we observe a well, a symbol laden with meanings of truth and concealment. On one side, a figure peers into its depths, perhaps seeking wisdom, whilst on the other side, a violent altercation unfolds. The well, as a visual motif, recurs throughout history, from ancient Greek oracles to the biblical story of Jacob meeting Rachel at the well. Consider the psychological weight of the well: it is a place of introspection, but also of potential deception, mirroring the complexities of human nature. The act of looking into a well might reveal one's hidden desires or fears, a concept echoed in the myth of Narcissus. This scene reveals how symbols carry their emotional and cultural resonance across time, evolving yet retaining their power to engage us on a subconscious level.