Map of Rome. Lower right part 1634

This is a section of Matthäus Greuter's "Map of Rome," an engraving offering a bird's-eye view of the city. Look closely at the emblems along the bottom; these aren't just decorations, but the insignia of Rome's thirteen regions. Consider the image of the wheel, for example. It represents the Trastevere region. While today it might seem merely decorative, the wheel, or rota, echoes back to antiquity, symbolizing fortune and the cyclical nature of life. We can trace this motif through medieval rose windows, alchemical diagrams, and even modern-day mandalas. Such symbols tap into a deeper, collective memory. They are a visual language that transcends time. Notice how these emblems, seemingly fixed and defined, hint at the ever-shifting currents of history and the way symbols are continually reinterpreted by the human psyche. They resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings in different historical contexts, speaking to the enduring power of images.