Steve's Genealogy Blog

The east and west sides of the Ara Pacis Augustae in Rome, Italy each bears two main reliefs, although the reliefs themselves have survived to differing degrees. The interpretation of the reliefs has been the subject of scholarly debate.

The Tellus Panel: The east wall holds a well-preserved relief depicting what is probably Mother Earth, holding two infants who symbolize the people of Rome. The scene is one of fertility and prosperity, the benefits of peace. The figure to the left of Mother Earth represents the land winds, riding on the back of a swan. The figure to the right of Mother Earth represents the sea winds, riding on the back of a sea serpent. Other interpretations suggest that the main figure represents Rome, or even Peace.

The Roma Panel: The other, poorly preserved relief on the east wall has been redrawn from images on Roman coins. The female warrior, Roma, sits on a pile of weapons so that they cannot be used.

The Aeneas Panel: The west wall includes a fairly well preserved relief depicting Aeneas, the founder of Rome, making a sacrifice to the Penates, the household gods Aeneas saved from the fires of Troy. Two attendants stand before him, one with a jug and bowl, the other with a sow. Another interpretation is that the main figure is not Aeneas, but Numa Pompilius, the second king of Rome, instead.

The Lupercal Panel: The second panel on the west wall is poorly preserved, but is thought to depict the discovery of Romulus and Remus by Faustulus, the shepherd. Romulus and Remus are shown suckling a she-wolf and the god Mars observes from the left.

Tellus Panel on the Ara Pacis Augustae

SOURCE:  Tellus Panel on the Ara Pacis Augustae (Rome, Lazio, Italy); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 11 August 2011.

Roma Panel on the Ara Pacis Augustae

SOURCE:  Roma Panel on the Ara Pacis Augustae (Rome, Lazio, Italy); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 11 August 2011.

Aeneas Panel on the Ara Pacis Augustae

SOURCE:  Aeneas Panel on the Ara Pacis Augustae (Rome, Lazio, Italy); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 11 August 2011.

Lupercal Panel on the Ara Pacis Augustae

SOURCE:  Lupercal Panel on the Ara Pacis Augustae (Rome, Lazio, Italy); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 11 August 2011.

Copyright © 2011 by Stephen J. Danko

The Ara Pacis Augustae in Rome, Italy is an altar to peace was consecrated in 9 BC to celebrate the return of Emperor Augustus from Hispania and Gaul. The detailed sculptures depict scenes of piety and reverence as well as long processions of Romans celebrating the Augustan Peace.

The Ara Pacis Augustae was rediscovered in 1568 but was not completely excavated and reconstructed until the 20th century. The structure has been surrounded by a modern building which, in addition to the Ara Pacis Augustae, contains a number of other works of art, both ancient and modern.

Ara Pacis Augustae – Exterior

SOURCE:  Ara Pacis Augustae – Exterior (Rome, Lazio, Italy); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 11 August 2011.

Busts of Notable Romans

SOURCE:  Busts of Notable Romans (Rome, Lazio, Italy); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 11 August 2011.

Ara Pacis Augustae – West Wall

SOURCE:  Ara Pacis Augustae – West Wall (Rome, Lazio, Italy); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 11 August 2011.

Ara Pacis Augustae – East Wall

SOURCE:  Ara Pacis Augustae – East Wall (Rome, Lazio, Italy); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 11 August 2011.

Copyright © 2011 by Stephen J. Danko

In modern Italian, Piazza del Populo means “People’s Square”, but the name of this popular city square in Rome, Italy, actually derives from the word for the poplar tree. Piazza del Populo was designed between 1811 and 1822 by Giuseppe Valadier who placed fountains on the east and west sides, an obelisk with four Egyptian Lion fountains in the center, used the twin churches Santa Maria dei Miracoli and Santa Maria in Montesanto to form the south boundary, and used the Porta del Populo (Gate of the People) as the north boundary.

The obelisk, commonly called the Populo Obelisk, was erected by Ramses II in Heliopolis and was brought to Rome in 10 BC. A copy of this obelisk stands at the top of the Spanish Steps in Rome.

To the west is the Fountain of Neptune, showing Neptune flanked by two dolphins and two Tritons. To the east is the Fountain of Rome between the Tiber and the Aniene, with the she-wolf nursing Romulus and Remus in front.

The Porta del Populo is an ancient gate that formed the northern entrance to Rome through the Aurelian Walls. The Aurelian Walls once surrounded all seven hills of Rome.

Populo Obelisk

SOURCE:  Populo Obelisk (Rome, Lazio, Italy); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 11 August 2011.

Lion Fountain

SOURCE:  Lion Fountain (Rome, Lazio, Italy); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 11 August 2011.

Fountain of Neptune

SOURCE:  Fountain of Neptune (Rome, Lazio, Italy); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 11 August 2011.

Rome between the Tiber and the Aniene

SOURCE:  Rome between the Tiber and the Aniene (Rome, Lazio, Italy); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 11 August 2011.

Porta del Populo

SOURCE:  Rome between the Tiber and the Aniene (Rome, Lazio, Italy); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 11 August 2011.

Copyright © 2011 by Stephen J. Danko

Villa Medici in Rome, Italy has offered guided tours of the gardens for some time but, this summer, the apartments of Cardinal Ferdinando I de’ Medici were opened to the public for the first time this summer. The most striking feature of the Cardinal’s apartments were the coffered ceilings, decorated with beautiful paintings and designed so as to look like they were framed.

The first room is the Elements Room, the second is the Muses Room (which was the Cardinal’s bedroom), and the third is the Room of Jupiter’s Loves . The Elements Room features depictions of the four basic elements and the Muses Room displays paintings of various Muses. While Cosme III was staying at Villa Medici in 1700, he considered the paintings in the Room of Jupiter’s Loves too licentious and had them burned.

Elements Room Ceiling

SOURCE:  Elements Room Ceiling (Rome, Lazio, Italy); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 11 August 2011.

Elements Room Central Figure

SOURCE:  Elements Room Central Figure (Rome, Lazio, Italy); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 11 August 2011.

Elements Room Corner Figure

SOURCE:  Elements Room Corner Figure (Rome, Lazio, Italy); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 11 August 2011.

Muses Room Ceiling

SOURCE:  Muses Room Ceiling (Rome, Lazio, Italy); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 11 August 2011.

Muses Room Central Figure

SOURCE:  Muses Room Central Figure (Rome, Lazio, Italy); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 11 August 2011.

Copyright © 2011 by Stephen J. Danko

In the gardens of Villa Medici in Rome, Italy stand copies of statues of Niobe and her children. Niobe, proud of her ten (or fourteen) children, was scornful of Leto who had only two children. Leto’s children, however, were the twins Apollo and Artemis, conceived during a liaison with Zeus. At the insistence of their mother, Apollo killed Niobe’s sons and Artemis killed Niobe’s daughters with poisoned arrows. Niobe herself, weeping inconsolably, was turned to stone, and even then her stone face continued to weep.

Not far from the statues of Niobe and her children stands the Gypsotheque, a former workshop that now houses plaster casts of statues, busts, and reliefs, many of which had languished in the basement of Villa Medici before being moved to their present location.

Among the statues in the Gypsotheque are the Greek poet Anacreon and the Greek statesman and orator Demosthenes.

Niobe and Her Children

SOURCE:  Niobe and Her Children (Rome, Lazio, Italy); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 11 August 2011.

Entrance to the Gypsotheque

SOURCE:  Entrance to the Gypsotheque (Rome, Lazio, Italy); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 11 August 2011.

Anacreon

SOURCE:  Anacreon (Rome, Lazio, Italy); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 11 August 2011.

Demosthenes

SOURCE:  Demosthenes (Rome, Lazio, Italy); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 11 August 2011.

Copyright © 2011 by Stephen J. Danko

The Villa Medici was established by Cardinal Ferdinando I de’ Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany who acquired the property in 1576. The villa is located on the Pincio Hill, next to the Borghese Gardens, and enjoys a grand vista of the city of Rome. Napoleon Bonaparte acquired the property and, in 1803, transferred the property to the French Academy in Rome. Today, the Villa Medici belongs to the state of France.

The terrace side of Villa Medici is covered with reliefs that were obtained from other structures including the Ara Pietatis Augustae. Many niches that once held statues and busts are now empty. The two lions in the loggia are modern copies of the originals that once stood guard there.

Near the loggia is a fountain with a sculpture of Mercury and, in the terrace is a copy of an obelisk. The obelisk, originally erected by Ramses II in Heliopolis was purchased by Cardinal de’ Medici and moved to Villa Medici. The original now stands in Boboli Gardens in Florence. The obelisk at Villa Medici is a copy.

Villa Medici from the Terrace

SOURCE:  Villa Medici from the Terrace (Rome, Lazio, Italy); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 11 August 2011.

The Loggia of Villa Medici

SOURCE:  The Loggia of Villa Medici (Rome, Lazio, Italy); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 11 August 2011.

Roman Statue in the Loggia of Villa Medici

SOURCE:  Roman Statue in the Loggia of Villa Medici (Rome, Lazio, Italy); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 11 August 2011.

Sculpture of Mercury and the Obelisk at Villa Medici

SOURCE:  Sculpture of Mercury and the Obelisk at Villa Medici (Rome, Lazio, Italy); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 11 August 2011.

Copyright © 2011 by Stephen J. Danko

The International Exhibition of Sculpture in Rome which ran from 24 May 2011 to 31 July 2011 included a number of sculptures in the vicinity of Casina Valadier in the Pincio Gardens of Rome, Italy. Included were such sculptures as Nobility of Time and Surrealist Piano by Salvador Dali, Unfurling by Andrew Rogers, and Jelly Babies and Modern Heroes by Mauro Perrucchetti. Fortunately, even though the exhibition was over, the sculptures were still on display.

Nobility of Time by Salvador Dali

SOURCE:  Nobility of Time by Salvador Dali (Rome, Lazio, Italy); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 11 August 2011.

Surrealist Piano by Salvador Dali

SOURCE:  Surrealist Piano by Salvador Dali (Rome, Lazio, Italy); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 11 August 2011.

Unfurling by Andrew Rogers

SOURCE:  Unfurling by Andrew Rogers (Rome, Lazio, Italy); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 11 August 2011.

Jelly Babies by Mauro Perrucchetti

SOURCE:  Jelly Babies by Mauro Perrucchetti (Rome, Lazio, Italy); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 11 August 2011.

Modern Heroes by Mauro Perrucchetti

SOURCE:  Modern Heroes by Mauro Perrucchetti (Rome, Lazio, Italy); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 11 August 2011.

Copyright © 2011 by Stephen J. Danko

The Spanish Steps (Scalinata della Trinití  dei Monti) in Rome, Italy are a popular hangout for tourists. The steps lead from Piazza di Spagna to Piazza Trinití  dei Monti with the church of the Santissima Trinití  dei Monti at the top. At the base of the steps is the Fontana della Barcaccia (Fountain of the Old Boat) and, to the right of the base of the steps is the house where English poet John Keats lived.

The church of the Santissima Trinití  dei Monti is the property of the state of France. In front of the church is an obelisk, a small copy of the obelisk of Ramses IIÂ in the Piazza del Popolo.

Near the Spanish Steps is the Collegium Urbanum de Propaganda Fide, a seminary for training missionaries. In front of the Collegium is the Column of the Immaculate Conception. A statue of the Immaculate Conception stands at the top of a Roman column. Statues of Moses (with horns), David, Isaiah, and Ezekiel guard its base.

A short walk from the Spanish Steps is Pincio Gardens. The Pincio Gardens date back to ancient Rome but, under the orders of Napoleon, the gardens were redesigned in French style. The gardens are famous for the busts of notable Italians, but also hold other delights, including an obelisk constructed under the orders of Hadrian. A rustic chalet serves as a shop for renting bicycles.

The Spanish Steps

SOURCE:  The Spanish Steps (Rome, Lazio, Italy); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 11 August 2011.

The Obelisk in Piazza della Trinití  dei Monti

SOURCE:  The Obelisk in Piazza della Trinití  dei Monti (Rome, Lazio, Italy); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 11 August 2011.

Column of the Immaculate Conception

SOURCE:  Column of the Immaculate Conception (Rome, Lazio, Italy); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 11 August 2011.

Obelisk in Piazzale del Pincio

SOURCE:  Obelisk in Piazzale del Pincio (Rome, Lazio, Italy); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 11 August 2011.

Rustic Chalet in Pincio Gardens

SOURCE:  Rustic Chalet in Pincio Gardens (Rome, Lazio, Italy); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 11 August 2011.

Copyright © 2011 by Stephen J. Danko

The Trevi Fountain in Rome, Italy is one of the most famous fountains in the world. Legend says that if you toss a coin into the Trevi Fountain, you will return to Rome. Nicola Salvi designed the fountain which was completed in 1762 by Giuseppe Pannini.

The fountain is set against the Palazzo Poli with its tall Corinthian columns. The fountain itself depicts the taming of the waters, with Oceanus riding in a shell chariot drawn by hippocamps, seahorses of a sort, with the forequarters of horses and fishlike tails. Two Tritons guide the hippocamps, one of which is restless as a wild sea and the other is calm as a tranquil ocean .  To one side of Oceanus stands Abundance with a horn of plenty and a vase from which water flows. To the other side stands Health, holding a bowl from which a snake drinks.

Not far from the Trevi Fountain there is what appears to be a private residence with a statue of a Roman Centurion reclining.

Further on stands the Basilica of Sant’Andrea delle Fratte which was completed in 1826 and dedicated to Saint Andrew. This basilica is home to two sculptures of angels originally designed by Bernini for the Ponte Sant’Angelo.

Detail of the Trevi Fountain

SOURCE:  The Trevi Fountain (Rome, Lazio, Italy); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 11 August 2011.

The Trevi Fountain and the Palazzo Poli

SOURCE:  The Trevi Fountain and the Palazzo Poli (Rome, Lazio, Italy); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 11 August 2011.

Courtyard Sculpture in Rome

SOURCE:  Courtyard Sculpture in Rome (Rome, Lazio, Italy); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 11 August 2011.

Sant’Andrea delle Fratte

SOURCE:  Sant’Andrea delle Fratte (Rome, Lazio, Italy); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 11 August 2011.

Copyright © 2011 by Stephen J. Danko

While in Rome, Italy during the last few days of my Mediterranean vacation, I stayed at the Rome Cavalieri Hotel. I chose this hotel because, while in elementary school, my class was assigned to write to our local bishop who was staying at the Rome Cavalieri while he attended the Vatican II conference. The bishop wrote back to all those who wrote to him, and I still have the two letters he sent me, the first dated 13 October 1965 and the second dated 27 November 1965.

The Rome Cavalieri stands atop Monte Mario in the northwest part of the city of Rome and commands an impressive view of the eternal city. The room itself was as incredible as the view.

Room in the Rome Cavalieri Hotel – Window

SOURCE:  Room in the Rome Cavalieri Hotel – Window (Rome, Lazio, Italy); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 10 August 2011.

Room in the Rome Cavalieri Hotel – Door

SOURCE:  Room in the Rome Cavalieri Hotel – Door (Rome, Lazio, Italy); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 10 August 2011.

Room in the Rome Cavalieri Hotel – Bath

SOURCE:  Room in the Rome Cavalieri Hotel – Bath (Rome, Lazio, Italy); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 10 August 2011.

Patio and Pool at the Rome Cavalieri Hotel

SOURCE:  Patio and Pool at the Rome Cavalieri Hotel (Rome, Lazio, Italy); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 10 August 2011.

View from the Rome Cavalieri Hotel

SOURCE:  View from the Rome Cavalieri Hotel (Rome, Lazio, Italy); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 10 August 2011.

Copyright © 2011 by Stephen J. Danko