Gezicht op de Sinaïberg 1864

This is a photograph of the Sinai Mountain, captured by Louis Vignes during his travels in the 19th century. What we see are stones, and rocks. An imposing landscape, seemingly untouched by time. Consider these stones – the building blocks of civilizations, of sacred spaces. Stones in the ancient world were not merely material, but carriers of spiritual weight and history. Think of the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem, or the Kaaba in Mecca; stones around which the stories of mankind revolve. In Vignes' photograph, the stones of Sinai evoke a sense of permanence, of a place where history is etched into the very earth. Sinai, the place where Moses received the Ten Commandments, represents law and foundation. The landscape is almost devoid of human presence, allowing the viewer to engage with the raw essence of the mountain. The image invites us to contemplate how certain places become imbued with meaning, resonating through generations. Each stone, a silent witness to the ebb and flow of human history and faith.