Mary and I are enjoying Rome.
The Eternal City
- Thread starter Nort
- Start date
My wife and I were there last Fall for three days.
The touring seemed to go so fast I could go back and do it again.
The touring seemed to go so fast I could go back and do it again.
This is my third visit.
The statue of the elephant is in the Piazza della Minerva.
Its name derives from the existence of a temple built on the site by Pompey dedicated to Minerva Calcidica, whose statue is now in the Vatican Museums.
Our tour guide told us of a story about the statue and why it is pointed the way it is.
The sculptor was pissed at the religious sect in one of the building and well, I looked it up.....
"The great Sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini, master of the Baroque in Rome, was hired to build a pedestal for a small Egyptian obelisk that was found during some excavations in Rome (probably as part of an ancient Circus), because the obelisk itself was not tall enough to stand in the middle of Piazza della Minerva.
During his work, a bitter discussion arose between the artist and the Abbot of the Dominican Convent, which is right on the square…
From these 2 events the great artist got the inspiration for his artwork: a white elephant with an angry face, dressed in Egyptian way to blend with the obelisk style, but looking backwards with hatred and pointing his ass right towards the convent, as a sign of despising against the nagging Abbot."
Its name derives from the existence of a temple built on the site by Pompey dedicated to Minerva Calcidica, whose statue is now in the Vatican Museums.
Our tour guide told us of a story about the statue and why it is pointed the way it is.
The sculptor was pissed at the religious sect in one of the building and well, I looked it up.....
"The great Sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini, master of the Baroque in Rome, was hired to build a pedestal for a small Egyptian obelisk that was found during some excavations in Rome (probably as part of an ancient Circus), because the obelisk itself was not tall enough to stand in the middle of Piazza della Minerva.
During his work, a bitter discussion arose between the artist and the Abbot of the Dominican Convent, which is right on the square…
From these 2 events the great artist got the inspiration for his artwork: a white elephant with an angry face, dressed in Egyptian way to blend with the obelisk style, but looking backwards with hatred and pointing his ass right towards the convent, as a sign of despising against the nagging Abbot."
Next time @Gunner , I’m bringing you along as my tour guide.
Your pictures sure give me the fever to go back alright. Thanks for posting. 
If I remember right the best part of the trip was the Gelato
If I remember right the best part of the trip was the Gelato
More snappies …
The bottom pic is an open air theater.
What I remember most is that the family who owns it lives in luxury apartments on top.
Sweet.
Looking it up:
Teatro di Marcello
“According to historical records, the family that currently lives in the Teatro di Marcello in Rome, Italy, is the Orsini family. They reside in a palace built on top of the ancient theatre ruins, which was designed by architect Baldassare Peruzzi in the 16th century.”
“Space for the theatre was cleared by Julius Caesar, who was murdered before its construction could begin; the theatre was advanced enough by 17 BC that part of the celebration of the ludi saeculares took place within the theatre; it was completed in 13 BC and formally inaugurated in 12 BC by Augustus, named after his nephew Marcus Claudius Marcellus who had died in 23 BC.”
Living in an area where really old things were built in the mid 1600’s.
Seeing things built a couple of thousand years ago by Julius and Augustus Caesar is amazing.
What I remember most is that the family who owns it lives in luxury apartments on top.
Sweet.
Looking it up:
Teatro di Marcello
“According to historical records, the family that currently lives in the Teatro di Marcello in Rome, Italy, is the Orsini family. They reside in a palace built on top of the ancient theatre ruins, which was designed by architect Baldassare Peruzzi in the 16th century.”
“Space for the theatre was cleared by Julius Caesar, who was murdered before its construction could begin; the theatre was advanced enough by 17 BC that part of the celebration of the ludi saeculares took place within the theatre; it was completed in 13 BC and formally inaugurated in 12 BC by Augustus, named after his nephew Marcus Claudius Marcellus who had died in 23 BC.”
Living in an area where really old things were built in the mid 1600’s.
Seeing things built a couple of thousand years ago by Julius and Augustus Caesar is amazing.
Last edited:
The second pic from the bottom with the large obelisk (brought to Rome in 1 BC by command of Augustus) is the Piazza del Popolo.
My wife and I walked there from our hotel.
I showed her your pictures and she wanted know if you went to the Leonardo da Vinci museum tucked in the corner of the Piazza? She thought it was pretty cool.
Your pic makes for a a nice before and after...
"En route to the front, soldiers of the 85th Infantry Division march through the Piazza Del Popolo in the liberated Italian capital of Rome."
My wife and I walked there from our hotel.
I showed her your pictures and she wanted know if you went to the Leonardo da Vinci museum tucked in the corner of the Piazza? She thought it was pretty cool.
Your pic makes for a a nice before and after...
"En route to the front, soldiers of the 85th Infantry Division march through the Piazza Del Popolo in the liberated Italian capital of Rome."
The Pantheon was great. Went have not made it to the de Vinci museum yet. Maybe tomorrow when the forecast calls for rain.
Went to the Colosseum, the Palatine Hill and the Forum today.
Went to the Colosseum, the Palatine Hill and the Forum today.
Last edited: