Various objects, including a marble sarcophagus with a relief of the battle of the Giants against Jupiter, found near the Tomb of S. Costanza in 1748 1769 - 1778

Giovanni Battista Piranesi created this print of various objects, including a marble sarcophagus, after its discovery near the Tomb of S. Costanza in 1748. The sarcophagus relief depicts the battle of the Giants against Jupiter. Notice the prevalence of serpent motifs intertwined with the figures. The serpent, an ancient symbol, embodies both healing and destruction. It recalls the caduceus of Hermes, a symbol of medicine, yet simultaneously evokes the chthonic forces of chaos and primal instinct. We see echoes of this duality in other contexts, such as the serpent in the Garden of Eden, a bringer of knowledge and temptation. Consider how the emotional intensity of the battle scene, rendered in stark relief, mirrors the psychological struggles inherent in the human condition. The giants' rebellion against the Olympian order reflects an eternal struggle against authority. This pattern resurfaces in the Renaissance, in Milton's *Paradise Lost* and in other works that portray man's defiance. Thus, these symbols transcend their immediate context, constantly evolving in form and meaning, and engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level.