Ruïne van de tempel van Bacchus, Baalbek c. 1867 - 1877

Félix Bonfils captured this image of the Ruin of the Temple of Bacchus in Baalbek with albumen silver print. The colonnade, those stoic pillars, speaks to the ancient world’s fascination with order and divinity. Consider how this architectural motif has echoed through time. These columns are reminiscent of the temples of ancient Greece and Rome, yet their presence in Baalbek, Lebanon, highlights the cross-cultural exchange of symbols. The column, initially a support, evolved into a symbol of power and permanence, recurring in structures across millennia. There’s a psychological resonance in these ruins. The fragmented stones evoke a sense of loss, reminding us of the ephemeral nature of even the grandest human achievements. Yet, the enduring presence of the temple also suggests a cyclical return, a re-emergence of cultural memory. These symbols are not linear; they ebb and flow, resurfacing in unexpected forms, carrying echoes of past meanings into new contexts.