After Piazza Navona we continued on down to the old La Sapienza. La Sapienza is Rome's oldest university. It still exists (we have conversational Italian partners/interns from there!) but it has moved to a new building. This older building is also a church: Sant'Ivo alla Sapienza.
Sant'Ivo alla Sapienza from behind
Unfortunately I couldn't get a picture from the front or the courtyard because it was closed... It was designed by Borromini in 1642. The shape he chose to top the building (a rising spiral column) is significant to those well versed in the Bible. Borromini meant it to be a reference to the Tower of Babel. The Tower of Babel was said to have been designed by Marduk in the 7th century BC. The people had come together and formed a common language so that everyone could communicate and prosper. But having the hubris to believe that they could create a tower to reach God, they were struck down. The tower was destroyed and the people were scattered all speaking different languages.
The spread of knowledge is the main theme for this mile of monuments by Bernini and Borromini; each influenced by Athanasius Kircher [see If It Ain't Baroque Don't Fix It (Part 1)] The main point of focus for this edifice is Language. La Sapienza, which translates to 'the knowledge/wisdom' was most known for its study of language, not theology as most would think.
The interior goes even further to solidify this. Inside is a tongue of fire that radiates to twelve alcoves and the alter. These alcoves were meant to be filled with statues of the apostles, but were never completed; the alter was to be home to the Madonna. The story being told here is that of Pentecost: when the Holy Spirit descended upon the twelve apostles and the Virgin Mary. Afterwards, as they preached to the people, every man listening heard His word in their own tongue. This moment was meant to undo the Tower of Babel.
The next stop on our tour was Bernini's Pulcino della Minerva: an elephant carrying an obelisk. It resides outside the main church of the Dominicans in Rome, Santa Maria sopra Minerva. As I mentioned before, Bernini and Borromini were influenced by Kircher's work and Kircher was a priest of the Jesuit order. Even the design of the elephant was influenced by Kircher. The direction the elephant faces is meant to be a subtle snub to the Dominicans. The obelisk on its back functions in the same way as the obelisk on la Fontana dei Quattro Fiume. [Questions? See If It Ain't Baroque Don't Fix It (Part 1)]
Pulcino della Minerva
The final stop on our walk was the church of Sant'Ignazio di Loyola: the Jesuit headquarters in Rome. The end of the mile literally ends in the middle of the south side of the building, allegedly lining up with Athanasius Kircher's wunderkammern. Inside the church is an amazing fresco by Andrea Pozzo. Pozzo managed to create a whole ceiling full of trompe l'oeils. The main fresco shows St. Ignatius ascending into heaven and meeting Christ. The fresco makes it look as if the arcitechture of the church continues even higher into the sky. Saint Ignatius is receiving a light (knowledge) that is almost reflected out of him to other Jesuit priests and to allegories of the four known continents - Europe, Asia, Africa, and America. The knowledge being imparted is obviously the word of God but also language, the means of spreading the word.
Nave ceiling fresco of Chiesa Sant'Ignazio di Loyola
So, that's finally the conclusion of my attempt to impart knowledge pertaining to art and history on the masses. All pictures are my own. Now I can get back to blogging about my life!
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