Gezicht op tombes van de Kaliefen te Caïro c. 1875 - 1900

This is a photograph of the tombs of the Caliphs in Cairo. The Caliphs, regarded as successors to the Prophet Muhammad, are symbolically represented by the domes of their tombs, which dominate the city's skyline. The dome itself is an ancient symbol, seen in Roman architecture and later adopted by Christianity and Islam. Its shape represents the heavens, a vault of divine protection and power. Consider the Pantheon in Rome, or Hagia Sophia, where the dome signifies cosmic order and spiritual transcendence. In this photograph, the repetition of domes creates a landscape of sacred memory, connecting Cairo to a broader history of religious and imperial ambition. The image evokes a sense of timelessness, a psychological connection to the past that persists in the cultural memory of the city. The dome is a powerful emblem of authority, adapted and re-contextualized throughout history, constantly reminding us of our collective search for meaning and order.