Candi Papoh/Kotes, staircase and platform with three architectural pieces. Gandusari, Blitar district, East Java province, 13th-14th century 1867

Isidore Kinsbergen captured this image of Candi Papoh, or Kotes, in the Blitar district during the late 19th century, documenting the architectural ruins from the 13th-14th centuries. The staircase and platform are adorned with three prominent architectural pieces. These structures evoke a sense of ascent and transition, reminiscent of similar temple designs throughout Southeast Asia. The stepped pyramids of the Maya civilization, though geographically distant, share a common aspiration: a stairway to the heavens, a sacred space where the earthly and divine meet. Notice how the candi, or temple, is elevated, both physically and spiritually. In the collective memory of humankind, height has always symbolized importance and transcendence. Think of the Tower of Babel, or the ziggurats of Mesopotamia. This enduring motif of elevation speaks to our deepest longing to connect with the transcendent, the spiritual realm. This image is not merely a record of ancient architecture but a powerful reminder of our shared human quest for meaning and connection. The image engages us on a subconscious level, stirring within us a sense of reverence and a yearning for the divine.