[Fragment of an Egyptian Statue in the Museum at Cherchell, Algeria] 1856

John Beasley Greene captured this photograph of a fragmented Egyptian statue in Algeria, sometime in the mid-19th century. Observe the severed foot, resting on a plinth adorned with acanthus leaves. These leaves, symbols of enduring life, were sacred in ancient Egypt and reappeared in classical Greek art, illustrating a symbolic migration. This foot, though isolated, evokes a sense of monumental presence, a vestige of a once-complete and powerful figure. The placement atop the classical column base—Greco-Roman in style—juxtaposes Egyptian and classical elements, highlighting the fusion of cultures in the Mediterranean. Think of the 'damnatio memoriae', the act of erasing someone from memory, and how the image is imbued with an emotional weight of loss and historical change, reflecting the cyclical nature of civilizations and the enduring power of symbols across time.