Keizer Augustus en de Tiburtijnse Sibille 1528 - 1530

Antonio da Trento created this print, “Keizer Augustus en de Tiburtijnse Sibille,” around the mid-16th century. At its heart lies the ancient Roman legend of Emperor Augustus encountering the Tiburtine Sibyl. The Sibyl points upwards, revealing a vision of the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child surrounded by angels. This symbolizes the transition from pagan Rome to Christian Europe. This very gesture, the raised hand, echoes through the ages—a universal expression of revelation and divine communication. Consider how similar gestures appear in ancient Egyptian art or even Renaissance depictions of John the Baptist. Though centuries and cultures may separate them, this gesture retains its primal power, tapping into our collective understanding of awe and divine intervention. It speaks to our shared human experience of seeking higher truths. This cyclical recurrence of symbols reveals the relentless, non-linear march of history.