Thermen van Antoninus te Carthago 1675 - 1725

This print, "Thermen van Antoninus te Carthago," presents an architectural rendering alongside remnants of the ancient Baths of Antoninus in Carthage. Note how the artist contrasts the bath's original grandeur with its ruined state. In the upper panel, the eagle motif, prominently displayed, symbolizes imperial power and divine authority, a recurrent emblem since Roman times. We find it echoed in the heraldry of European empires and even in modern national symbols. Its evolution highlights a consistent, if altered, aspiration to power and legitimacy across millennia. Consider, too, the classical figures at the lower panel, seemingly contemplating these ruins. Their presence embodies a cultural memory, a melancholic reflection on vanished glory. This yearning for the past engages our emotions, evoking a sense of loss and historical continuity. It is a potent reminder of how deeply we are connected to those who came before, their triumphs, and their falls.