View of the upper floor of the menagerie of wild beasts made ​​by Domitian for the use of the Flavian Amphitheatre, commonly known as the Curia and Ostilia 

Giovanni Battista Piranesi created this etching titled, *View of the upper floor of the menagerie of wild beasts*, to document Roman architectural ruins, and the rediscovery of classical antiquity, in 18th century Italy. Piranesi captures the emotional experience of confronting the remnants of a once-powerful empire. The crumbling edifice of the menagerie serves as a poignant reminder of the transience of power and the passage of time. His detailed work romanticizes the ruins, creating a narrative about the rise and fall of civilizations. This piece invites reflection on how societies construct identities through architecture and cultural memory. By documenting these ruins, Piranesi contributed to a cultural movement that sought to reconcile the grandeur of the past with the realities of his present.