The Symbolism Behind the Illustrations

Artemis, known in Rome as the goddess Diana, was the twin sister of Apollo and, like him, daughter of Latona and Zeus. Eternally young, she took pleasure only in the hunt—much like Valeria, the protagonist of the novel. Before meeting Andrea (nicknamed “Adonis”), she had never fallen in love and was constantly seeking new challenges…

According to some mythological traditions, it was Artemis’s wrath that unleashed the boar that fatally wounded Adonis.

The Temple of Diana was built in 1789 by the architect Antonio Asprucci in neoclassical style. It is located along the Viale del Casino di Raffaello, within the Villa Borghese park in Rome.

Bees are a symbol of hard work—but also of sweetness, since like little alchemists, they create honey. They sting only to defend themselves and protect their hive.

The Fountain of the Bees, a masterpiece by Gian Lorenzo Bernini from 1644, appears at the beginning of Chapter 12 for two reasons: first, because of its location on Via Vittorio Veneto, which is mentioned in the upcoming chapter… and second, to foreshadow Valeria’s behavior. Like a gentle bee, she only "stings" in self-defense.

The rudder is considered the primary instrument for steering a ship and, in a figurative sense, it symbolizes guidance and control when we “navigate” through life. The Fountain of the Rudder appears at the beginning of Chapter 14 to emphasize the protagonist’s ability to take back control of the situation in response to Andrea’s words.

The Fountain of the Rudder is located at Porto di Ripa Grande 6A in Rome and is part of the “Rione Fountains” series designed by architect and sculptor Pietro Lombardi.

Created by sculptor and painter Jacopo del Conte in 1580, the Fountain of the Porter is one of the six "Talking Statues" of Rome, once used by the public to post satirical messages during the papal era.

This fountain was chosen to appear at the beginning of Chapter 32 to symbolize the protagonist’s move—after leaving New York, she relocates to Rome.

The Fountain of the Porter is located on Via Lata, in Rome.

Famous for its slowness, the turtle is often used as a metaphor for people who move with extreme calm—or, let’s say, a certain lack of urgency.

The Fountain of the Turtles is illustrated at the beginning of Chapter 35 as a playful hint at the nickname “Turtle,” which will later be given to one of the characters in the novel.

Located in Piazza Mattei in Rome, the fountain was created by Giacomo della Porta between 1581 and 1588. The turtles were added in 1658 by Gian Lorenzo Bernini.

In today’s visual arts, the word putto refers to a cherubic child figure—this small fountain indeed depicts a child embraced by two dolphins, nestled in a niche framed on either side by caryatids.

It appears at the beginning of Chapter 37 to symbolize a character introduced in that chapter: with a childish attitude and a symbiotic bond with his siblings (represented by the two dolphins), he remains under the watchful control of parental authority—much like the caryatids enclosing the niche.

The Fountain of the Putto is located on the façade of Palazzo Sacchetti on Via Giulia and is, unfortunately, no longer in use. The building was designed in 1542 by Antonio da Sangallo the Younger as his private residence, and the fountain is attributed to him.

Famous for being the street of writers, painters, sculptors, and their ateliers, Via Margutta in Rome is home to this beautiful fountain. Part of the Rione Fountains series created by Pietro Lombardi in the late 1920s, the Fountain of the Artists features a rich combination of artistic elements—masks, stools, easels, and brushes.

Illustrated at the beginning of Chapter 39, the Fountain of the Artists serves as a symbolic prelude, evoking the world of art that awaits.

For centuries, cannonballs were one of the most powerful tools of war—relentlessly effective at breaking through enemy forts and ships. And what better symbol of “war” than cannonballs themselves to represent the explosive argument that unfolds in the final chapter of the book?

Another masterpiece by Pietro Lombardi, the Fountain of the Cannonballs is part of the Rione Fountains series and is located on Via di Porta Castello in Rome.

Asclepius—known to the Romans as Aesculapius—was the son of Apollo and the god of medicine. According to myth, Athena had given him blood from the head of the Gorgon Medusa, and he knew how to use it to bring the dead back to life. And what if love, too, could “resurrect”? Who’s to say…

Built in neoclassical style by architects Antonio and Mario Asprucci in 1792, the Temple of Aesculapius stands on the artificial lake in Villa Borghese, Rome.

Throughout the novel, many English words and expressions are marked with an asterisk—and toward the final pages, readers will find a glossary explaining their meanings. What better symbol for vocabulary and encyclopedias than this extraordinary fountain?

The Fountain of the Books is another creation by Pietro Lombardi, part of the Rione Fountains series, and it is located on Via degli Straderari in Rome.