There are four Cardinal Virtues who kneel in homage at the feet of Truth. The fortress rests on a lion which symbolizes his courage, while Justice carries a sword and scales which refer to his power and impartiality. Further back, Temperance carries a jug of water signifying abstinence, and Prudence carries a snake, an allusion to her wisdom. In the top right corner there is a building reminiscent of the Pantheon in Rome. The symbols they hold, such as the sword and lion, represent power and ambition while the serpent represents deception and intellect. Troy here suggests that all of humanity's vain acts are a performance in themselves and that the only reality is age and death,