The Fountain of the Four Rivers is an impressive sculptural work located in Piazza Navona, one of the most beautiful squares of Rome. It was created in 1651 by the great Baroque artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini, under the pontificate of Pope Innocent X.
History
The Fountain of the Four Rivers was created with the aim of emphasizing the power of the papacy, as it is located in front of the church of Sant’Agnese in Agone, built by the same Pope Innocent X.
The fountain was inaugurated in 1651 and consists of a large rock and a large basin in which the four figures of the rivers are represented: the Nile, the Ganges, the Danube and the Rio de la Plata.
The obelisk that rises in the center of the fountain is of Egyptian origin, as it was found in the Circus Maximus and is related to the cult of Isis, which was also venerated by the ancient Romans.
Design
The fountain is composed of a large basin that is divided into four parts, each of which is occupied by a large statue. On the left side of the basin is the statue of the Nile, symbolizing the river that divides the old world from the new one. On the right side is the statue of the Ganges, which represents the Orient. On the back of the fountain is the statue of the Danube, symbolizing the power of the Papal States. Finally, in the center is the figure of the Rio de la Plata, representing the Americas.
The fountain is crowned by an obelisk that is made of granite and has a height of about 10 meters. On the top of the obelisk is a dove, the symbol of the Pamphili family, which was the family of Pope Innocent X.
Symbolism
The Fountain of the Four Rivers is a symbol of the papal power and its authority over the world. The four statues represent the four continents known at the time and the obelisk represents the papacy’s power to unite them all.
Statues
- The Nile: Representing the river that divides the old world from the new one.
- The Ganges: Representing the Orient.
- The Danube: Representing the power of the Papal States.
- The Rio de la Plata: Representing the Americas.
Obelisk
The obelisk is a symbol of the papacy’s power to unite the four continents. On the top of the obelisk is a dove, the symbol of the Pamphili family, which was the family of Pope Innocent X.
The Fountain of the Four Rivers is an impressive work of art and a symbol of the power of the papacy. It is a beautiful and imposing monument that is worth visiting if you are in Rome.
