Koor, Byzantijns kruis, hoofdaltaar en retabel van de basiliek van San Marco in Venetië 1860 - 1881

Here we have a photograph by Carlo Ponti, capturing the choir, Byzantine cross, main altar, and retable of the Basilica di San Marco in Venice. Dominating the space is the cross, an emblem of sacrifice and redemption, central to Christian iconography. This symbol, however, is not confined to Venice or even Christianity. Recall the ankh of ancient Egypt, a symbol of life, or the solar crosses found in various cultures, each echoing a fundamental human preoccupation with immortality and cosmic order. The cross's evolution reveals a fascinating dance between continuity and reinvention. Originally a brutal instrument of execution, it transformed into a symbol of hope, its stark geometry imbued with profound spiritual meaning. This metamorphosis speaks to our collective capacity to find light in darkness, to sublimate trauma into transcendence. Images possess an inherent power, engaging viewers on a subconscious level, triggering buried memories and emotions. Thus, the cross in San Marco is but one iteration of a symbol that has traversed millennia, its form echoing in diverse cultural expressions. This non-linear, cyclical progression highlights how potent symbols continually resurface and evolve, reflecting and shaping the human experience.