The Fountain of the Four Rivers is magnificent. This is a brutal composition of allegories of parts of the world with elements of the animal and plant world. But the “Egyptian” obelisk is not at all Egyptian, but a local fake ... The fountain must be visited not only at the confluence of tourists, but also early in the morning. Many legends are associated with it. In "Angels and Demons" a priest was drowned in this fountain.
Lena and the Fountain of the Four Rivers on Piazza Navona
In Piazza Navona, in front of the Pamphili Palace in Rome, there is an impressive architectural composition - the Fountain of the Four Rivers (Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi).
This fountain was created by the baroque genius Giovanni Lorenzo Bernini by order of Pope Innocent X (Giambattista Pamphili) in 1648-51. The construction of the fountain cost the papal treasury dearly. To cover the expenses, the pontiff had to introduce a new tax on bread.
Egyptian obelisk
In the center of the grandiose baroque composition is a tetrahedral Egyptian obelisk on a pedestal. It is believed that he was brought from Egypt by the emperor Caracalla. However, historians, having studied the contents of the images embossed on the monument, concluded that the monument is pseudo-Egyptian and made in Rome during the reign of Domitian. On the stone faces are depicted Roman emperors in the clothes of the Egyptian pharaohs.
Sculptural group of the fountain
Bernini made this colossus the center of the powerful sculpture group of the fountain. The obelisk was set surrounded by four allegorical images symbolizing the gods of the largest rivers of the four parts of the world. Statues of the river gods were performed by Bernini's disciples.
Statues of river gods
Plastic composition of river gods
Africa in a plastic composition is denoted by the Nile, the mysterious god of the river is covered with a veil - the sculpture was created by Antonio Fancelli. America is symbolized by La Plata. God is depicted as a Moor, who was frightened by a stone snake and recoiled from the obelisk. The figure-allegory was sculpted by Francesco Baratta. The Ganges, representing Asia, is depicted with an oar - a statue of Claude Poussin. The Danube, representing Europe, raises his hands to the obelisk - the work of Antonio Luchei. The figures of the river gods do not look frozen and static. The creators embodied in them freedom, strength, expression.
Fountain details
The pointed obelisk that rises above the fountain means the desire of the Roman Catholic Church to defeat paganism. Its top is crowned by a dove carrying an olive branch - a symbol of hope. The bird was part of the coat of arms of the Pamphili family. Two sculptural family coats of arms, crowned by the papal tiara, are installed on both sides of the base of the obelisk. The composition is supplemented by images of the vine, flowers and fruits - a symbol of wealth and abundance, as well as a horse, dolphin, snake, African lion, palm trees.
Fountain today
Today, near this fountain, guests of Rome take the best photographs, artists write their sketches, children throw coins in a stone bowl. The purest water enters the fountain from the Aqua Virgo aqueduct, which has existed since the 1st century BC.
A pseudo-Egyptian obelisk made in Rome during the reign of Domitian
How to get there
The nearest metro stations on line A are Barberini and Ottaviano, but they are far from the square. It is better to catch a bus and go to the Corso Rinascimento stop.
Bus No. 492 is traveling from Piazza Barberini.
From Metro Line In Colosseo you can take bus 87.
From Termini A line subway station, take bus 70.
There are several more routes passing by Navona Square: 30, 70, 81, 87, 130F, 628, C3, No. 6, No. 7.
