Gezicht op de Trevifontein te Rome, Italië 1859 - 1866

This photograph by Edmondo Behles captures Rome’s Trevi Fountain, an imposing stage for a dance of stone figures and flowing water. At its heart is the god Oceanus, a powerful symbol of the sea’s dominion. Consider how Oceanus, as a primal force, echoes figures like Poseidon or Neptune from antiquity. These gods command the waters, embodying both its life-giving and destructive capabilities. This iconography, which presents the god in triumph, isn’t just a display of power; it is a psychological recognition of the deep, often turbulent, emotions that the sea represents. The Trevi Fountain’s Oceanus also reminds us of the cyclical nature of symbols. Although its immediate aesthetic might evoke Baroque splendor, its thematic roots extend into the ancient world. This non-linear progression shows how symbols can resurface across epochs, each time molded by new cultural contexts, yet retaining a semblance of their primal, emotional core.