Street scene in Cairo. [Title vignette, vol. 3] 1846 - 1849

This lithograph by David Roberts captures a bustling street in Cairo, dominated by the minaret of a mosque. The minaret, a tower from which the call to prayer is made, pierces the sky, a powerful symbol of faith and community. The minaret appears not only in Islamic architecture, but also echoes the ancient ziggurats of Mesopotamia, structures that similarly sought to bridge the earthly and the divine. This reaching towards the heavens resonates with the Tower of Babel, a symbol of humanity's ambition and its connection to the divine. The form evolves, yet the impulse remains—to connect with something beyond ourselves. Like the ancient obelisks of Egypt, the minaret serves as a cultural touchstone, a visible manifestation of deeply held beliefs. The image elicits a sense of awe, reminding us of humanity’s timeless quest for meaning. Symbols like the minaret continually resurface, evolving to mirror the ever-changing beliefs and cultural landscapes of humanity.