Part of the ancient Via Appia outside the Porta of St. Sebastian about three miles 

Editor: This is "Part of the ancient Via Appia outside the Porta of St. Sebastian about three miles," an engraving by Giovanni Battista Piranesi. I’m struck by its sheer monumental quality rendered in such precise detail, despite the ruinous state of the sculptures. What layers of meaning do you see embedded here? Curator: It's compelling, isn't it? The image is not merely a record of Roman ruins but a reconstruction, imbued with layers of symbolism. Consider the shields: Each displays a gorgon's head, Medusa. What might those potent images ward off? And, equally, what do they draw near? Editor: Well, Medusa often represents protection, a ward against evil, right? Is Piranesi suggesting something about the passage of time and what we need protection from now? Curator: Precisely. The layering of these gorgon images, repeated and reflecting, creates an impression of the many dangers in looking backward through the centuries. Why depict these ruins, not pristine, but fragmented, powerful? What is retained? Editor: So, even in decay, these symbols – the Medusa, the Roman armour – still communicate a powerful message, connecting us to that cultural memory. Curator: Indeed. This echoes neoclassicism's fascination with antiquity but carries a distinctly Piranesian flavor. It is memory imbued with an urgency – history’s weight bearing down and lifting us. Look at the cascade of symbols from top to bottom, does it remind you of a story? Editor: It does seem to say something about the rise and fall, the cyclical nature, of civilizations and beliefs. So much more than just an etching of some old statues! I appreciate your highlighting how those images and their symbolic load shape our experience. Curator: And I your willingness to journey with me down this Roman road. What appears at first glance is a rendering but a profound journey.