Tempio del Sole te Rome Possibly 1631 - 1717

This print, made by Israel Silvestre, depicts the Temple of the Sun in Rome. The temple, with its circular form, isn't merely architecture; it’s a potent symbol of the sun's cyclical journey and its life-giving force. The circular motif, central here, echoes across millennia and cultures. Consider Stonehenge, or even the humble halo in Christian iconography. Each iteration carries the weight of its predecessors, resonating with our collective memory of celestial power. The Temple of the Sun connects to ancient sun-worshipping cultures, where circular temples were built to mirror the cosmos and honor solar deities. Across time and space, this symbolism is not static; it shifts, adapting to new cultural landscapes. However, the deep-seated reverence for the life-giving sun persists, manifesting in recurring visual motifs that tap into our shared human psyche. The cyclical nature of the sun, and therefore the circle, speaks to our subconscious understanding of life, death, and rebirth, engaging us on a profound, emotional level. The Temple of the Sun, like the sun itself, is a testament to the cyclical journey of symbols through time.