An immersion into the portrait of the Renaissance era with its philosophical subtexts, mystical symbols, and language enigmas. One image can tell an entire era - especially if it is a male portrait by Giovanni-Battista Moroni, a student of the great Moretto. At the center of the discussion is an unusual inscription under the portrait from the Hermitage collection: "nosce te aphton". The misspelling of the Greek word αὐτόν may seem insignificant, but in reality, it opens the way to reflections on the teaching of ancient languages in Bergamo in the 16th century, on bilingualism, on the philosophy of knowledge, and on alchemical searches for the "higher self". We share on our website where to go with children in St. Petersburg.