Gezicht op het Lateraan te Rome met de Sint-Jan van Lateranen 1743 - 1803

This print by Giovanni Volpato captures the Lateran Square in Rome, an eternal city layered with histories, and enduring symbols. Dominating the view is the obelisk, a monolithic form that once stood in ancient Egypt as a symbol of the sun god Ra, brought to Rome by emperors, and later re-erected by the popes as a symbol of Christian triumph. Consider its journey, from the pharaohs, linked to solar power and royal authority, to its repurposing in the heart of Christendom. Here, it stands as a silent witness to the shifts in power and belief, yet it retains a primal power over the urban landscape. The obelisk is an index to humanity's persistent striving for transcendence, a theme recurring across millennia. The enduring echo of ancient forms speaks to our collective memory, subconsciously shaping our understanding of power and permanence, and revealing the eternal dance between past and present.