Heroveren van Augsburg 1704

Editor: So, this medal, “Heroveren van Augsburg,” was crafted in 1704 by Georg Hautsch. It’s made of metal with relief carvings on both sides. The images and text give it an official, historical feeling. What symbolic meanings can you glean from this work? Curator: Medals are fascinating cultural artifacts, dense with symbolic language. Consider the dove with the olive branch – a universal symbol of peace, emerging here after conflict. What’s it perched above? Turbulent waters… waves engulfing figures reaching for something on a craggy outcrop, which then morphs into a rock holding what appears to be the city’s crest and a small dish. Editor: A dish? Is it a baptismal font, maybe? Curator: Possibly. Or something far more symbolic – perhaps suggesting deliverance and faith, placed above the watery chaos of war and siege. Then turn the medal, where you can see a clear depiction of the city itself. The Latin text surrounding it is important as well. The message indicates Augsburg's capture on December 16, 1703, and its miraculous liberation on August 16, 1704. Do you see the interplay of text and image creating a narrative? Editor: Absolutely, the medal is a whole story condensed into one object. The water to the skyline...it's quite brilliant! It’s incredible how much history and meaning can be embedded in such a small object. Curator: It serves as a potent reminder of cultural memory—a carefully curated, officially sanctioned memory perpetuated through imagery and form. Think about who creates and controls these symbols. Who gets to dictate the "official" narrative? Editor: That's a very good point! It gives me a lot to think about. Thank you for helping me better understand the symbolism here.