Gezicht op de Kapucijnerkerk, te Mannheim 1782

This is an engraving of the Kapuzinerkirche in Mannheim, rendered by the brothers Klauber. Note the cross atop the church, a universal symbol of Christianity. Its origins trace back to ancient forms—the equal-armed cross, a solar symbol, adopted by pre-Christian cultures to represent cosmological balance and the four corners of the earth. Early Christians, seeking to express their new faith, saw in this symbol an allusion to the crucifixion. Over centuries, the cross evolves into a Latin cross. Consider also the psychological weight it carries; it is a focal point for collective memory and spirituality, evoking profound emotions of faith, sacrifice, and redemption. The power of symbols lies in their ability to transcend time and culture. They evolve, adapt, and reappear, bearing witness to the cyclical nature of human experience.