Kapiteel van een kolom in crypte van de Abdijkerk te Rolduc 1890

This is an old photograph of a column capital inside the crypt of the Rolduc Abbey Church. Notice the acanthus leaves carved around the capital: this motif, inherited from the ancient Greeks and Romans, signals a rebirth of classical ideals. However, these leaves have shed their original association with civic glory, transforming into symbols of spiritual rebirth and divine grace. The acanthus, once adorning temples to the gods, now supports the house of God, a fascinating journey through cultural memory. Recall how the acanthus also appears in Renaissance paintings, not just as architectural details but in clothing and tapestries. It suggests a deep, subconscious desire to reconnect with an idealized past, a theme that resonates through the centuries, evolving yet always present. This column isn't just a structural support; it’s a carrier of history.