Gezicht op het Sinaïgebergte c. 1850 - 1865

This photograph by Francis Frith captures the stark, imposing vista of the Sinai Mountains. In Judeo-Christian tradition, this mountain is where Moses received the Ten Commandments from God, a pivotal moment of divine law. Mountains, throughout history, have symbolized a sacred meeting point between the earthly and the divine, a recurring motif across cultures. Think of Mount Olympus in Greek mythology, or Mount Meru in Buddhist cosmology. These are places where gods and humans meet. The mountain serves not only as a physical stage but as a symbol of ascent, of spiritual trial, and of revelation. This photograph speaks to the human drive to find meaning in the landscape, to imprint our spiritual longings onto the natural world, transforming a mere mountain into a powerful symbol.