A geneaology in both Latin and Greek of the Founders of the City, and a Description of the Original City 1641

Curator: This print by Giacomo Lauro presents "A genealogy in both Latin and Greek of the Founders of the City, and a Description of the Original City." Editor: The sheer detail in this small plate is impressive! It really evokes the weight of history, like peering into the past. Curator: Absolutely. The engraving technique allows for such fine lines, depicting both the lineage of Rome's founders and a map of the ancient city. Consider how the labor intensiveness of the process reflects the ambition of these histories. Editor: And the use of both Latin and Greek—it's a deliberate invoking of classical authority, lending a sense of timelessness to the city's origins. I am intrigued by the iconography of Romulus and Remus. Curator: Precisely. These visual symbols were carefully chosen to construct a narrative of legitimacy and power. The very act of printing and distributing this image speaks to a desire to control that narrative. Editor: It's fascinating how the visual language constructs a specific vision, linking Rome's rulers to divine and mythical figures. Curator: Indeed. It is a material object performing ideological work, bridging past and present. Editor: It leaves me contemplating how symbols persist, evolve, and continue to shape our understanding of history.