Speculum Romanae Magnificentiae: Ornithon Sive Aviarum 1558

This 1558 engraving, "Speculum Romanae Magnificentiae: Ornithon Sive Aviarum" (Mirror of Roman Magnificence: Birdhouse or Aviary) by an anonymous artist, depicts a detailed plan of a Roman birdhouse. The image uses an aerial perspective to illustrate the elaborate structure with its central domed pavilion surrounded by a circular colonnade and two rectangular water features. The design highlights the sophistication of Roman architecture and the importance of birds in the ancient world. This piece, now in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, provides a glimpse into the grandeur and complexity of Roman design and offers insight into the lives of birds in ancient times.