Once a vast, sprawling complex of buildings, the remains of the Portico of Octavia are meager in comparison to what once stood. Octavia, the elder sister of Emperor Augustus, undertook a reconstruction of a Roman Republican portico, though some ancient authors attribute the project to Augustus himself. At the time of Piranesi’s etching, the atrium of the portico stood in a Jewish neighborhood, had undergone multiple restorations, and held a fishmarket. Piranesi illustrates the best preserved section of the compound, meticulously marking shadows and stone texture to bring the engraving to life. Piranesi connects the past to the present in this scene, acknowledging the space is not what it used to be. However, the space was still utilized by those who appreciated what it could offer them.