Triomf processie met mannen, ossen en olifanten 1618

Onofrio Panvinio created this print depicting a triumphal procession sometime in the 16th century. Here we see elephants, sacrificial animals, and conquered peoples paraded in a powerful display of Roman military might. The elephant, a symbol of exotic conquest, also appears in ancient depictions of Alexander the Great's campaigns, and much later in Renaissance tapestries celebrating imperial power. Consider the sacrificial animals: this motif echoes through time, from ancient Roman rituals to depictions of Abraham's sacrifice, embodying themes of devotion, power, and renewal. Though the meaning shifts, the emotional weight remains. This image connects to a deep, almost subconscious understanding of power, victory, and sacrifice that continues to resonate. The cyclical nature of these symbols reveals how history continually reinvents itself, echoing through our collective memory.