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| View of Piazza del Popolo |
Among the many piazzas that adorned the city of Rome, the Piazza del Popolo is one of the most majestic. It is quite unique too as it conveys a specific Egyptian atmosphere.
Its name, which means people's square was originally referring to the poplars [pioppo, in Italian or
populus in Latin] that stood around. But the name was changed with time to become 'popolo', meaning people in Italian. The square was laid out in 1538 to serve as a main gateway to Rome on its northern side.
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| The Obelisk |
The south side of the piazza is flanked by two twin 17th-century churches: Chiesa di Santa Maria del Miracoli and Chiesa di Santa Maria in Montesanto.
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| Hieroglyphs on the Obelisk |
The square was remodeled in 1823 by Giuseppe Valadier. The Egyptian obelisk, which was previously at Circo Massimo, was put in the center of the square. The 36m-high obelisk (known as the Flaminio Obelisk) was originally standing at Heliopolis more than 3,000 years ago, but was brought to Rome by Emperor Augustus after the Roman conquest of Egypt. A close look to the details reveals the hieroglyphs among which the Ankh sign is clearly visible.
Nowadays, it gives an Egyptian atmosphere to the Eternal City.
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| Central fountain: view on the two churches |
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| One of the piazza fountains |
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| The two 17th-c churches |
It seems interesting to include a section of Dan Brown's book 'Angels & Demons' here, as it takes place in Rome, and most specifically on the piazza del Popolo:
Excerpt:
“The piazza seemed subtly filled with Illuminati significance. Not only was it laid out in a perfectly elliptical shape, but dead center stood a towering Egyptian obelisk – a square pillar of stone with a distinctively pyramidal tip. Spoils of Rome's imperial plundering, obelisks were scattered across Rome and referred to by symbologists as “Lofty Pyramids” - skyward extensions of the sacred pyramidal form. […] Langdon pointed to th imposing Porta del Popolo – the high stone archway at th far end of the piazza. The vaulted structure had been overlooking the piazza for centuries. Dead center of the archway's highest point was a symbolic engraving.
“Look familiar?”
Vittoria looked up at the huge carving. “A shining star over a triangular pile of stones?”
Langdon shook his head. “A source of Illumination over a pyramid”.
Vittoria turned, her eyes suddenly wide, “Like... the Great Seal of the United States?”
“Exactly. The Masonic symbol of the one-dollar bill.”
Vittoria took a deep breath and scanned the piazza. “So where's this damn church?”
The Church of Santa Maria del Popolo stood out like a misplaced battleship, askew at the base of a hill on the southeast corner of the piazza.”
Ref. Pocket Star Books, New York, 2000, ISBN: 0-671-02736-0
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