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 Easter Sunday - obelisk
cloaked for her facelift by icunme, 4 more photos
A bit of background that I found - In 1816 Giuseppe Valadier redesigned Piazza del Popolo and the Pincio (the hill overlooking Piazza del Popolo) for Pius VII. At the center of the square the obelisk was placed here in 1589 by Domenico Fontana as part of the urban plan of Sixtus V. It was originally erected in Heliopolis and it was brought to Rome and placed in the Circus Maximus by Augustus. It is dedicated to Rameses II and is topped by the mountains and the star of Sixtus V.
This first view shows her obelisk properly clothed on Easter Sunday as she undergoes her facelift. In the second view from within the Piazza you will note Valadier designed two hemicycles (semi-circles) (here the side towards the Pincio) around the obelisk to which he added fountains and Egyptian lions. Detail of the obelisk is shown in photo 3. The statues of the four seasons (below Summer) are located at the beginning of the streets going up to the Tiber or the Pincio. Two large marble groups are at the center of each hemicycle. In the 4th photo you can see a detail of Neptune between two tritons, a typical Baroque theme developed in neoclassical style. The inner side of Porta del Popolo (photo 5) celebrates the entry into Rome of Queen Christina of Sweden in 1655, but the decoration (by Bernini) is actually a celebration of Alexander VII, whose coat of arms had six mountains and a star. However in the festoon he united the oak branches of Alexander VII with the ears of wheat of the Vasa (or Wasa), the Swedish royal family.
Photo and reference text by permission Robert Piperno to be used for non-commercial purpose only. Address: Piazza del Popolo, RomeDirections: Below Villa Borghese - Metro M (Flaminia)
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Piazza del Popolo is a large piazza that was originally the site of festivals and public executions.
It is home to four Egyptian-style lion fountains and one of Rome's oldest Obelisks. At one end of the square there are 2 symmetrical churches.
It is located close to the Villa Borghese and not far from Piazza di Spagna.
We wandered up here for a look and were impressed by the Piazza's spaciousness and variety of features. Leave a Comment
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 by belgianchocolate
In 1658 ,' pope Alexander VII' ordered the design
for these two churches.'Carlo Rainaldi'
was the chosen one. He had to be creative.
The pope wanted an harmonious square
with two churches.
the 'Santa Maria in Monsanto' on the left and
on the other side of the via del Corso the
'santa Maria in Montesanto'.
But the surface for both churches wasn't the
same. The space for the 'Santa maria in
Montesanto' was smaller then for the other
church. That is why one on the left has an
oval dome and the 'Santa Maria dei Miracoli'
has a round one. Leave a Comment Address: Piazza del popolo.
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 by belgianchocolate
If you have ver been in Rome you know there
are a lot of 'obelisks' decorating the squares.
Well if you rule the world you can take whatever
you want with you? True or false.
The one on 'Piazza del Popolo' comes from
Heliopolis where 'Seti I and Ramses II' had
placed it in front of the temple of the sun.
We are talking 1200 years before our calender
even started.
'Augustus 'still neede some decoration for his
'Circus Maximus.' After the emperor it was the
pope who had an eye on this obelisk and in
1589 'Sictus V'b placed it on the Piazza del Popolo. Leave a Comment Address: Piazza del popolo.
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 Rameses II's obelisk in
P. delle Popolo by TheWanderingCamel,
4 more photos
None of these things got in the way of the Romans who, like almost all who have followed them to the great Kingdom on the Nile, fell under the thrall of this extraordinary civilization. It wasn't just Cleopatra who bewitched the greatest generals of their day - the first emperor, Augustus, was sometimes portrayed as an Egyptian Pharaoh, the gods of the Nile were admitted to the Roman Pantheon and it was Augustus who brought two Egyptian obelisks back to Rome, the first of many that appeared in the city, both authentically Egyptian and Roman copies, over the next 300 years. By the mid-16th century, all but one were in ruins, broken and scattered, exotic remnants of the Rome that was gone.
Thirteen are standing today, repaired and placed in strategic places in the urban renewal that took place under Pope Sixtus V, their pagan origins muted by the addition of Christian crosses and papal symbols. You'll find some of them at:
Piazza del Popolo - one of those brought to Rome by Augustus in 30BC, this obelisk was first erected by Rameses II in Heliopolis and dedicated to the sun. In Roman times it stood in the middle of the Circus Maximus.
Piazza delle Quirinale - this is one of a pair of obelisks that guarded the entrance to Augustus' mausoleum. It has no heiroglyphs and is flanked by huge sculptures of Castor and Pollux that were moved here from the Baths of Constantine at the same time as the obelisk was erected.
Piazza Navona - currently rising out of a hoarding rather than the magnificent Bernini fountain which is currently undergoing restoration. A Roman obelisk, it was originally erected by Domitian after the fire that destroyed much of the city (including many of the buildings in the Forum) in 80AD.
Piazza della Rotunda (outside the Pantheon) - a small Egyptian obelisk from Heliopolis.
Piazza di Santa Maria sopra Minerva - another small Egyptian obelisk, this one sits atop a delicious sculpture of an elephant - the idea of Bernini, though not his work. Leave a Comment
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 by rukiLeave a Comment
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 The square. by chiara76
There are also two churches called Santa Maria dei Miracoli and Santa Maria in Monte Santo which close the street Via del Corso.
The gate on this square was designed by Michael Angelo. Leave a Comment Address: Piazza del Popolo
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 Piazza del Popolo by Polly74
The church of Santa Maria del Popolo with its many works of Caravaggio, the twin baroque churches and the obelisque of RamsesII all contribute to the beauty and importance of this square.
However, this square has a more sinister past funtioning as a theatre for public executions in the 18° and 19° centuries
Just sit in the sun, under the obelisque you find in the middle of the square, and look around...it would be interesting! Leave a Comment Address: Piazza del PopoloDirections: Metro: A-Flaminio. Exit the station and pass under the city walls to the northern entrance to the piazza
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 Just inside the gate by Rhondaj
As luck would have it, for us, the obelisk (July '06) is covered for restoration!!! But we could pet the four water spitting lions at the base... Leave a Comment
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 Piazza del Popolo, Rome by AndrafLeave a Comment Address: Piazza del Popolo
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