Which is the most important type of direction used in a drawing?
Architects show the direction of the building using compass directions—north, south, east, and west. However, the
direction is the most important and is the only direction shown in a drawing.

There is now picture how are we supposed to see 

Asia minor influenced them when they were trading.

Symbolism creates a "hidden meaning" of some sort without obviously showing it kind of like the "ophelia among the flowers" a beautiful peace but it does not look like anything right? if you  discover  the hidden meaning being the chaos and conflicts within ones mind youll see the art as having more meaning than just flowers.