Gezicht op het Piazza Navona te Rome, Italië 1864 - 1881

Giacomo Brogi captured this view of Piazza Navona in Rome with a camera, freezing a moment in time. Note the obelisk piercing the skyline. In ancient Egypt, these monolithic forms were dedicated to the sun god Ra, embodying solar power and stability. Centuries later, we see obelisks repurposed, transplanted into the heart of Rome, a testament to cultural appropriation and reinterpretation. Here, it stands as a symbol of Roman imperial power, then Christian authority, now Italian pride. Consider the psychological weight of this symbol, how its form, reaching skyward, triggers a primal response, a sense of awe and aspiration. The obelisk in Piazza Navona is not merely a stone monument; it’s a vessel carrying layers of meaning, each epoch leaving its mark. It is a reminder of the enduring human impulse to connect with the divine, to memorialize power, and to leave our mark on the world.