2) This beautiful sight is located in the Lateran Palace in Piazza di San Giovanni.
3) The staircase is 28 steps high and is made of marble. However, today the steps are covered by wood to protect them.
4) Iconography
Often we think of art as something that is aesthetically pleasing and is created for people to look at. However, sometimes the art that I personally find most beautiful are things that stand for something beautiful or interesting. The Scala Santa is one of these structures that strikes me because of what it means. As soon as I stepped into the Lateran Palace today, I immediately noticed people kneeling on a staircase, silently praying. After a little explanation about what those stairs represent, I was able to understand why these people were in such a reverent state.
Legends say that these steps were brought from Pilot’s house in Jerusalem. It is thought that they are the steps that Jesus actually walked down after he was condemned. Today they are covered by wooden boards in order to preserve them. They are so holy that people are only allowed to climb them on their knees (Blue Guide Book pg. 365. When I saw this happening today, I could immediately tell that these steps were really iconic. There is such a deep connection with one’s faith when in the presence of a place that Jesus was. It is not fact that He walked these steps, but just the idea of it is enough to draw people closer to Him. The hallway that the stairs are in is beautifully decorated with frescos, giving it a peaceful attitude. The Scala Santa represents deep spirituality and a connection to faith unlike any place I have ever been.
1) The second piece of art I chose for this week is the Egyptian Obelisk in Piazza di San Giovanni.
2) This statue is located in Piazza di San Giovanni, behind the San Giovanni Basilica.
3) This obelisk is the tallest one, standing 32.18 meters tall (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_obelisks_in_Rome).
4) History
One thing about the city of Rome that fascinates me is that the artwork has so much diversity. Rome has such a long history that there are several different time periods, which cause the appearance of things to vary. Additionally, there is a lot of art that comes from different countries. One example of this is the various Egyptian obelisks. In the ancient times before Christ, Egyptian art had a lot of influence on Rome, which is why the obelisks were brought to Rome. At that time, they were dedicated to the god of the sun, Apollo. However, later they became decorations of the city, which is their purpose to this day (Blue Guide Book pg. 357).
The obelisk we saw today in Piazza di San Giovanni is particularly interesting for several reasons. First, it is the oldest and tallest obelisk located in Rome, and is also the last one that was brought from Egypt. Second, I find it interesting that it was originally dedicated to Pharaoh Thutmosis IV, but was moved some time after that. It was later found decorating the Circus Maximus, and in 1588 was relocated to Piazza di San Giovanni. Fortunately, it is still in excellent condition so that we can still enjoy its symbols (http://www.romeartlover.it/Vasi34.html#Obelisk).
No comments:
Post a Comment