Obelisk at Piazza della Minerva

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Wanda Marcussen
by
published on 16 February 2020
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Obelisk at Piazza della Minerva Download Full Size Image

The obelisk standing in the Piazza della Minerva is the smallest of Rome’s obelisks and it is positioned on the back of an elephant sculpted by Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1598 – 1680 CE). The origins of this obelisk are unknown, but as it was found in the garden next to the cloister of the Basilica di Santa Maria sopra Minerva, it is believed to have stood at the entrance of the Isis temple in ancient times after being brought to Rome by Emperor Diocletian (r. 284 - 305 CE).

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About the Author

Wanda Marcussen
Wanda Marcussen is a doctoral research fellow in environmental history at the University of Oslo. Her academic interest includes climate history, marine environmental history, and cultural heritage studies.

Cite This Work

APA Style

Marcussen, W. (2020, February 16). Obelisk at Piazza della Minerva. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/image/11925/obelisk-at-piazza-della-minerva/

Chicago Style

Marcussen, Wanda. "Obelisk at Piazza della Minerva." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified February 16, 2020. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/11925/obelisk-at-piazza-della-minerva/.

MLA Style

Marcussen, Wanda. "Obelisk at Piazza della Minerva." World History Encyclopedia. World History Encyclopedia, 16 Feb 2020. Web. 20 Nov 2024.

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