Zuil van Antoninus Pius te Rome 1575

This etching by Étienne Dupérac depicts the Column of Antoninus Pius in Rome. The column, a symbol of imperial power and memory, rises prominently amidst the urban landscape. Its fluted shaft and the spiral of carved reliefs narrate tales of military campaigns and imperial triumphs. Consider the obelisk—an ancient Egyptian symbol of the sun god Ra—how it was transported to Rome and re-erected as a symbol of Roman authority. Similarly, the Column of Antoninus, while Roman in origin, echoes the earlier Egyptian forms, suggesting a continuity of power symbols across cultures. The act of raising such a column is more than just a physical feat; it is an assertion of dominance, a visual reminder of the emperor's reign. The column, as a marker of space and time, also taps into our collective memory, resonating on a subconscious level. It reminds us of the cyclical nature of history, where symbols are constantly reinterpreted, their meanings shifting with the tides of time.