Beschryuing van Oud en Niew Rome Verdeelt in Drie Deelen: In't Fransch beschreven door den heere Francois Desseine Possibly 1704

This engraving by François Deseine depicts the Temple of the Sun in Rome. Note how the sun, though not visually represented, is powerfully evoked through the temple’s architecture and symbolic placement. The temple, dedicated to Sol Invictus, the Unconquered Sun, echoes earlier solar deities from across cultures. We might think of the Egyptian Ra or the Greek Helios, each embodying light, life, and power. The geometric harmony of the temple mirrors a cosmic order, reflecting humanity's attempt to capture the divine. The temple’s ruins poignantly remind us of the cyclical nature of civilizations. Yet, the enduring architectural form reveals a powerful, persistent, and subconscious human drive to seek meaning and permanence. This temple stands as a testament, not just to a past cult, but to an ongoing human dialogue with the cosmos.