Fourth View of the Colosseum c. 1550

This is Hieronymus Cock's etching, “Fourth View of the Colosseum.” It captures the iconic amphitheater not in its ancient glory, but as a ruin, a skeleton of its former self. The arches, repeated throughout the structure, echo classical grandeur, yet here they are fractured, overgrown, and incomplete. These arches, symbols of Roman power, appear across time in triumphal arches and aqueducts. Think of them not just as architectural elements, but as enduring motifs that speak to humanity's impulse to span divides, both literal and metaphorical. This motif appears again and again through history, but here, the Colosseum's decaying arches take on a melancholic quality. Consider the psychological impact of ruins. They evoke a sense of loss, but also of survival. The crumbling Colosseum is a reminder of time's relentless march, a stage where the drama of history continues to unfold. The ruin is not just a physical space, but a potent symbol, its image forever imprinted in our collective memory.