Pantheon 1680

This is an etching of the Pantheon, made by an anonymous artist. Note the oculus at the dome's apex, a key feature. In ancient Rome, the oculus acted as a symbolic portal, connecting the earthly realm to the divine. This motif, a circular opening towards the heavens, echoes through time. Consider the Egyptian pyramids with their apex stones or the sacred groves with openings to the sky. This shape transcends cultures, carrying the universal human desire to connect with higher powers, a sort of longing gaze. Such motifs speak to our collective memory, a shared subconscious that influences how we create and interpret art. This reaching for the divine taps into deep-seated emotions. Though architectural styles shift, the impulse behind such symbols persists, re-emerging in different forms, and always resonating with that ancient yearning.