Definition
A palimpsest is like a digital document with tracked changes visible, showing layers of writing or images on a surface. Imagine an old manuscript where the original text was scraped off to make way for new writing, but traces of the old remain visible. It's a surface reused for something new, retaining hints of its past. Think of it as history etched onto a single canvas, revealing different eras. A palimpsest illustrates the idea that nothing is ever truly erased; echoes always linger. In essence, it captures time's layers.