Axial Age Project
Portraits of the Axial Age — Museum Digital Platform
Project Vision
The Axial Age Project is conceived as a cultural and curatorial research project that investigates the common spiritual, philosophical, and symbolic roots of civilizations through portraiture. Inspired by Karl Jaspers’ concept of the “Axial Age”, the project identifies a historical threshold in which human consciousness underwent a radical transformation across multiple civilizations, without direct cultural contact.
This epoch marks the emergence of the individual, the passage from myth to logos, and the birth of ethical, philosophical, and spiritual paradigms that continue to structure contemporary global culture.
Conceptual Framework
Between the 6th and 4th centuries BC, parallel currents of thought emerged in Persia, India, China, and the Greco-Roman world. Figures such as Socrates, Confucius, Buddha, Lao Tzu, Zoroaster, Pythagoras, Mahavira, Parmenides and Heraclitus articulated new visions of existence, responsibility, knowledge, and transcendence.
The Axial Age Project translates this historical convergence into a symbolic and visual language, constructing a contemporary map of shared human consciousness.
“The centuries from the 6th to the 4th century BC represent the apex of the Axial Age, when rivers of new awareness and revolutionary spiritual currents flowed across civilizations.”
Navigable Index
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Axial Age Timeline
Parallel breakthroughs in ethics, metaphysics, and spiritual systems shape the emergence of individual consciousness across civilizations.
Buddha and Mahavira articulate compassion, enlightenment, and non-violence as foundations for ethical life.
Confucius and Lao Tzu develop complementary visions: moral order and social integrity, cosmic balance and the Way.
Zoroaster introduces moral dualism and a renewed model of responsibility within a monotheistic ethical horizon.
Socrates, Heraclitus, Parmenides, and Pythagoras establish logos, inquiry, ontology, and the harmony of number as structures of thought.
Greek philosopher, 5th century BC, Athens
Fresco portrait by Fabrizio Ruggiero
Ethical philosophy · Critical inquiry · The birth of moral consciousness
Chinese philosopher, 5th century BC, Shandong
Fresco portrait by Fabrizio Ruggiero
Personal integrity · Justice · Ethical order in social relationships
Persian prophet, 5th century BC
Fresco portrait by Fabrizio Ruggiero
Moral dualism · Responsibility · The ethics of choice
Indian religious philosopher, 6th century BC, Lumbini
Fresco portrait by Fabrizio Ruggiero
Enlightenment · Compassion · Interdependence of all phenomena
Greek philosopher and mathematician, 5th century BC, Samos
Fresco portrait by Fabrizio Ruggiero
Harmony of number · Cosmic order · Form as knowledge
Chinese philosopher, 5th century BC
Fresco portrait by Fabrizio Ruggiero
The Tao · Balance · The Way as a principle of existence
Indian philosopher and ascetic, 5th century BC, Bihar
Fresco portrait by Fabrizio Ruggiero
Ahimsa · Ethical non-violence · Harmony among all beings
Greek philosopher, 5th century BC, Elea
Fresco portrait by Fabrizio Ruggiero
Being · Ontology · The foundations of metaphysical thought
Greek philosopher, 5th century BC, Ephesus
Fresco portrait by Fabrizio Ruggiero
Flux · Becoming · Transformation as the structure of reality
Conceptual Map
Symbolic relationships between traditions and universal human values.