Gezicht op de Tempio di Vespasiano in Pompeï c. 1860 - 1880

Giorgio Sommer captured this photograph of the Tempio di Vespasiano in Pompeii using albumen print. The temple, dedicated to the Roman emperor Vespasian, features a distinct architectural style, representative of Roman imperial power and religious devotion. The temple’s columns, friezes, and the altar are adorned with symbolic carvings and inscriptions, reflecting the imperial cult and divine associations attributed to Vespasian. Note that the placement of the altar suggests rituals of sacrifice and offerings. Such rituals remind us of the cyclical nature of power and divinity. Echoes of these motifs resonate through time. The idea of offering and sacrifice appears in different forms in art and religion throughout Europe and beyond. Even now, these images influence our understanding of authority, divinity, and the ephemeral nature of civilization.