Psalterion persan before 1828

Pierre Félix van Doren's "Psalterion persan" presents us with a drawing of a Persian psaltery, encircled within a symbolic frame. The triangle motif, a stable form, is ornamented with flowing ribbons, crosses, and floral patterns, echoing a blend of sacred and ornamental traditions. The psaltery itself, with its strings stretched taut, resonates with the echoes of ancient Greek lyres, instruments tied to Apollo, the god of music and healing. The crosses adorning the triangle harken back to Christian symbolism, while the floral patterns are reminiscent of Persian gardens—paradises on earth. Consider the continuous recurrence of the triangle, from the Egyptian pyramids to Christian depictions of the Trinity. It is not merely a shape but a vessel carrying layers of cultural memory. The flowing ribbons, too, are a motif encountered across cultures, representing festivity, celebration, and the ephemeral nature of life. In this drawing, Van Doren captures the essence of cultural migration and adaptation. The convergence of diverse symbols within a single image speaks to the continuous human endeavor of weaving together the threads of our shared history, reminding us that symbols never truly vanish but resurface, transformed, in the collective psyche.