Casa di Meleagro 19th-20th century

Giorgio Sommer captured this photograph of the Casa di Meleagro in Pompeii, immortalizing the ancient city with light. Observe the recurring motif of the griffin, prominently carved into the fountain's base. This mythological creature—part lion, part eagle—served as a guardian, a protector of sacred spaces and valuable possessions in antiquity. The griffin surfaces throughout history, from the treasures of Mycenae to medieval heraldry. Notice how its role shifts from divine protector to a symbol of strength and vigilance, adapted by different cultures yet retaining its primal power. The remnants of wall paintings evoke a longing for the past. Like shadows of memories, these fragments hint at the lives that once unfolded here, engaging our collective subconscious with echoes of love, loss, and the ephemeral nature of existence. The griffin stands as a sentinel through these transformations. This image, captured by Sommer, demonstrates the cyclical nature of symbols, eternally resurfacing in our cultural consciousness.