Book XXII.3. Hannibal arrives in Etruria {Tertiae Decadis Liber Secundus p. CII verso} 1493

Editor: This anonymous print, titled "Book XXII.3. Hannibal arrives in Etruria," depicts a scene of Hannibal's arrival. The elephant seems so out of place! What cultural associations might this image have carried? Curator: The elephant serves as a potent symbol of foreignness and power. Hannibal’s crossing the Alps with elephants was legendary. What emotions do you think it evoked in its original audience? Editor: A mix of fear and awe, perhaps? It's the kind of imagery that sticks in your mind. Curator: Exactly. This image, though small, taps into a deep well of cultural memory about invasion and the "other." What is striking is how the anonymous artist visualizes the cultural memory. Editor: That’s fascinating; the symbolic weight makes the image so much more than just a historical record. Curator: Indeed, visual symbols are powerful tools for encoding and transmitting cultural knowledge.