View of the Customs House in Piazza di Pietra, which was built within the ruins of the Temple of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Pius in his Forum, from Views of Rome 1750s

This etching by Giovanni Battista Piranesi captures the Customs House in Rome, built within the ruins of the Temple of Marcus Aurelius. The imposing columns, remnants of ancient Roman grandeur, dominate the scene, symbols of enduring power and architectural ambition. These columns, reaching skyward, are not unique to Rome. We find their echoes in temples across Greece, Egypt, and even in Renaissance cathedrals, each instance carrying the weight of cultural and spiritual aspirations. Think of the column as a "leitmotif" of civilization. Though the Temple was dedicated to a Roman Emperor, we see how its design lives on. The transformation from temple to customs house presents a poignant juxtaposition. The sacred space of the temple becomes a marketplace. The subconscious longing for the glory of the Roman Empire is interwoven with the mundane reality of daily commerce. The columns persist, their silent presence a reminder of the cyclical nature of history, where past and present are forever entwined.