Gezicht Lake Rotomahana, gezien vanaf de White Terraces c. 1865 - 1875

Daniel Louis Mundy captured this landscape of Lake Rotomahana from the White Terraces. The terraces themselves, cascading formations of silica, were celebrated as one of the natural wonders of the world. Their white color, purity, and mineral composition evoke a sense of cleansing and purification. Like the classical nymphaeum or sacred groves, natural wonders like this are places to find spiritual rejuvenation. Think of similar locations throughout time, from Roman baths to Renaissance fountains, all acting as places of both physical and mental purification. Water in particular is an archetype, present in myths across cultures as a symbol of transformation. Its reflective surface hints at the subconscious, and its ability to erode stone reminds us of time's relentless flow. The terraces have disappeared following the eruption of Mount Tarawera, but the image, a trace of the past, keeps a cultural memory alive. This cyclical pattern of creation, destruction, and remembrance reinforces the enduring power of symbols across time.