A Unique Obelisk in Piazza della Minerva
Just a short distance from the Pantheon, in Piazza della Minerva, stands one of Rome’s many Egyptian obelisks. However, what makes this one unique is its placement atop a small elephant sculpture, a creative vision imagined by the great Baroque master Gian Lorenzo Bernini.
A Dispute Over the Monument
When the obelisk was rediscovered in 1665 within the Dominican convent in Piazza della Minerva, Pope Alexander VII decided to erect it in the adjacent square. He invited architects to propose designs for its base, leading to a heated competition between Bernini and a Dominican friar from the convent. Although Bernini won the commission, he was forced to make some architectural compromises due to the friar’s influence over the Pope.
Bernini’s Hidden Message
Feeling slighted by this interference, Bernini took his revenge in a witty and subtle manner. Following the Pope’s death, he arranged for the sculpture to be positioned so that the elephant’s rear end faced the Dominican convent. Additionally, the elephant’s tail was sculpted in a suggestive manner, creating an “indecent” view for the friars each time they exited the building—a bold and humorous act of artistic defiance.
Execution by Ercole Ferrata
Although the design was Bernini’s, the actual sculpture was executed by his pupil, Ercole Ferrata, faithfully bringing to life the master’s vision and hidden jest.
A Must-Visit Historical Site in Rome
Today, Bernini’s Elephant stand as two fascinating testaments to Rome’s layered history—one a somber reminder of justice and punishment, the other a delightful example of artistic wit and rebellion.
