Pyramus and Thisbe 1524 - 1534

Heinrich Aldegrever etched "Pyramus and Thisbe", capturing the tragic tale with potent symbols. The ill-fated lovers, a lion, and a mulberry tree are prominent, each laden with meaning. The mulberry tree, initially bearing white fruit, is stained red with the blood of Pyramus, symbolizing sacrifice and transformation. This potent image echoes across time. We find similar themes of tragic love and transformation in Ovid’s "Metamorphoses", where the myth originated. Consider the weeping figure of Thisbe, reminiscent of countless mourning Madonnas; a timeless posture of grief. The image of the lion, a symbol of untamed passion, also has roots in earlier myths, where it represents primal drives and instincts. The cycle continues. As we trace these symbols, we see how they are not merely repeated, but transformed. They resurface, each time colored by the unique historical and cultural context, reminding us of the powerful, unbroken chain of human experience.