Archaeology · Art · Museums · Rome

The Lancelotti Discobolus, a Roman copy of Myron's statue found on the Esquiline in 1781

The chief masterpiece of the Palazzo Massimo in Rome is one of the best-known ancient sculptures, the Lancellotti Discobolus, 2nd century BC, itself a marble copy of the legendary bronze original of the 5th century BC by the sculptor Myron. The Discobolus was one of the celebrated ancient Greek

NB! · Art · Monarchies · Museums · Rome

Wooden model of Bernini's equestrian statue of Louis XIV in the Galleria Borghese

Wooden model of Bernini's equestrian statue of Louis XIV in the Galleria Borghese. In the end the sculpture did not please the king, and he sent it off to the back of the park

Faith · Heritage · Science · Rome

Wood analysis dates the Chair of Saint Peter to no earlier than the 6th century

For the first time in 150 years, tourists and residents of Rome can see the wooden throne of Saint Peter the Apostle, previously hidden within the Chair of Saint Peter in the apse of Saint Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. Flying to Rome at once! The relic was

Architecture · Faith · Art · Rome

The impressive "Glory of Saint Ignatius" in the Baroque Roman church of Sant'Ignazio di Loyola, one of the largest frescoes in the world and the work of the Italian artist, architect, art theorist and Jesuit brother Andrea Pozzo, is unique not only…

The subject of the painting glorifies Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuit order, and his missionary work. The continents are portrayed in female and male figures, each resting on a characteristic animal: Europe with a sceptre, mounted on a horse; Africa, seated on a crocodile; America, appearing as

Art · Observations · Rome · Humour

Runaway horses at Trajan's Column in Rome in a painting by Giacomo van Lint

As Your Literature Teacher Would Say, Here the Bolter Bolted. I love this genre scene by Giacomo van Lint, set by Trajan's Column in Rome. The horses have bolted and cannot now be stopped without a coachman's help. But there are no coachmen on the box.

NB! · Art · Books · Rome

A beautiful engraving by Cornelis Claesz Duyssend, showing Romulus and Remus vying for the milk of the she-wolf, on the title page of one of the best-known books on the history of Rome, a concise account of events from the foundation of the city to the da

NB! · Faith · People · Rome · Humour

Pope Francis Drops In for a Cup of Coffee

NB! · Architecture · Geography · Maps · Society · Rome

Marble maps charting the territorial growth of the Roman Empire, set up under Benito Mussolini on the walls of the Basilica of Maxentius, the last building of imperial Rome

Faith · Society · People · Rome

Meetings of John Paul II with Reagan and other American politicians

The chief anti-Soviets of their time: Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II. Officially, Reagan met John Paul II at least four times: in June 1982 at the Vatican, in May 1984 in Alaska, in June 1987 at the Vatican and in September 1987 in Miami. In addition, John

NB! · Rome · Humour

The Vatican Laundress, It Turns Out

Archaeology · Books · Rome

Archaeologists find remains of Caligula's portico in the gardens of Agrippina the Elder in Rome

In Rome, on Piazza Pia, archaeologists have discovered the remains of Caligula's portico. The emperor had this portico built in the gardens of his mother, Agrippina the Elder (the granddaughter of Augustus and the daughter of Agrippa, his closest associate). The gardens occupied almost the whole of the

Painting in a gilded frame showing the interior of the Pantheon, with a coffered dome, a round oculus and figures of visitors.

Architecture · Art · Museums · Rome

Painting of the Pantheon interior at the National Gallery of Art in Washington

Giovanni Paolo Panini, Interior of the Pantheon. Washington, National Gallery of Art