Ancient marble bas-relief in the Museo Borgia existing Velletri (inc F Piranesi) 

Giovanni Battista Piranesi etched this depiction of an ancient marble bas-relief, once housed in the Museo Borgia, to capture its eternal significance. The image vibrates with symbolic energy. Observe the chariot procession. This motif, common in Roman art, hearkens back to triumphal entries, displaying power and divinity. Yet, its presence here, fragmented and unearthed, evokes a sense of lost grandeur. Consider the spiral ornamentation above it, reminiscent of the volutes of Ionic columns. These spirals, symbols of cosmic energy, appear as early as the Bronze Age, signifying growth and continuity, and later, find themselves adorning Christian illuminated manuscripts. The image's power lies not just in what is depicted, but how. Piranesi, through his stark contrasts and meticulous detail, exposes the emotional weight carried by these symbols. They resurface in different guises, yet echo through history, evoking our collective memory of empires, beliefs, and the enduring human quest for meaning.