Tijdens de bouw van de Tempel van Jupiter wordt een mensenhoofd gevonden 1818

Bartolomeo Pinelli, an Italian artist, created this print depicting a scene during the construction of the Temple of Jupiter. Pinelli was known for his detailed etchings that captured Roman life and history. This print invites us to consider the role of the body in ancient Roman society. The discovery of a human head during the temple's construction could be seen as an ill omen. Yet consider the gender dynamics; the head is notably female. What anxieties might a woman's presence, even in death, provoke in a patriarchal society centered on male power and dominance? The act of unearthing a woman’s head becomes a symbolic moment, revealing the tensions between the sacred, the political, and the gendered body. Pinelli uses line and composition to create a scene filled with curiosity. The print may act as a mirror reflecting not only ancient Roman beliefs, but also the artist's own societal context.