Vogelvluchtgezicht op het Sint-Jorishof te Amsterdam, 1544 1729

This bird's-eye view of the Sint-Jorishof in Amsterdam, made in 1544 by an anonymous artist, captures more than just a building; it speaks of symbols deeply rooted in cultural memory. Observe the church spire topped with a weather vane, a ubiquitous symbol of guidance and divine orientation. Its presence connects to the ancient obelisks of Egypt, symbols that similarly bridged the earthly and the divine. Across cultures, such vertical markers denote a striving towards the heavens, embodying humanity's eternal quest for meaning and connection to the cosmos. Consider too the collective unconscious, the echo of ancestral experiences resonating within us. The spire, like the obelisk, taps into this primal yearning, stirring feelings of hope and spiritual aspiration. Thus, the weather vane and the spire represent the cyclical nature of symbols, constantly reborn, yet always tethered to their ancient roots.