Balustrade met reliëf van de San Marco in Venetië before 1885

Carl Heinrich Jacobi captured this photograph of a balustrade in Venice, immortalizing its intricate details. The recurring wheel motif dominates the stone relief, evoking ancient solar symbolism. The wheel, a symbol of the sun, divinity, and cyclical existence, appears in myriad forms across cultures and epochs. Consider its echoes in ancient Mesopotamian art, or its manifestation as the Dharma wheel in Buddhism, each bearing witness to the sun's life-giving power. Even the Celtic cross intertwines solar symbolism with Christian faith, a testament to the symbol's enduring appeal. Here, entwined with serpentine forms, the wheel takes on a layered meaning. Snakes, often associated with earthly power and transformation, add a primal, subconscious layer to the image. The photograph captures a cultural memory, a convergence of symbols resonating with our deepest understandings of life, death, and rebirth. This confluence of symbols engages the viewer, stirring a primeval recognition of our shared history.