Sibille van Erythrae 1546 - 1562

This engraving by Frans Huys depicts the Erythraean Sibyl, one of the prophetesses of antiquity, engrossed in her book of prophecies. The Sibyl's book is not just an object; it is a symbol. It’s a potent image that resonates through time. Consider the book as it appears in illuminated manuscripts of the Middle Ages, where it symbolizes divine knowledge, or even earlier, in Egyptian art, with scrolls representing wisdom and power. These are all echoes of a collective desire to capture and understand the unknown. Here, the Sibyl’s intense focus suggests an active, almost fraught, engagement with the knowledge she possesses. Her furrowed brow speaks to the psychological weight of prophecy. The gesture of pointing appears throughout centuries of art; a link to the future, but also a commanding, emotional force. This is not simply a depiction of a mythological figure, but a symbol of humanity’s endless quest to decipher the mysteries of the universe, passed down through history.