Plan of the City of Rome. Part 8 with the Castel Sant'Angelo 1645

Antonio Tempesta etched this segment of his map of Rome, highlighting the Castel Sant'Angelo. Note how the artist emphasizes the flowing ribbon shape framing the Castel Sant’Angelo. This stylized depiction of the Tiber River, twisting like a serpent, evokes ancient Roman representations of rivers as gods, symbols of life and fertility. Yet, it also suggests something more primal. We see such sinuous forms across cultures—consider the dragon in Chinese art, or the ouroboros, the snake eating its tail, symbolizing cyclical renewal. Here, the river isn’t just a geographical feature; it's a conduit of cultural memory. It embodies the eternal return, reminding us of the continuous flow of history, a force shaping and reshaping the city. This image, seemingly a straightforward map, taps into our collective unconscious, revealing how symbols persist, adapt, and resonate across time. The river, like history, never truly stops flowing.