Vatican 2001

 

The Vatican Museum

Laocoön and His Sons

This sculptural grouping was found in Rome in 1506 in the ruins of Titus' palace, described by Pliny the Elder as a masterpiece of the sculptors of Rhodes. Pope Julius II (1503-1513) bought it immediately for his statue collection. It may date to around 40BC.

The Trojan priest Laocoön was strangled by sea snakes, sent by the gods who favored the Greeks, while he was sacrificing at the altar of Neptune. Because Laocoön had tried to warn the Trojan citizens of the danger of bringing in the wooden horse, he incurred the wrath of the gods

 

One meanders through a seemingly endless string of museum

rooms, offices, and Papal residences on the way to the Sistine Chapel

 

A priceless collection of treasures that is still being researched and inventoried
The 'animal room' of the Vatican museum(s)
Detail of a Roman emperor's sarcophagous on display at the Vatican museum(s)
A colossal Roman statue (or what's left of it) in the garden of the Vatican museum
A beautiful Egyptian sphinx, a part of the Vatican Egyptian museum

 

One of the Vatican museums. If I remember correctly, the Egyptian collection is in there

 

San Angelo's Castle

 

San Angelo's Castle, used as a refuge by some Popes.

Originally built by the Romans as Emperor Hadrian's Mausoleum (ca. 200 AD)

 

Papal quarters in San Angelo's Castle

 

View of the dome of St. Peter's Basilica (left) and the river Tiber from Castle San Angelo

 

One of the angels who stands watch at the Castle San Angelo

 

The Vatican in Avignon (France)

The Chateau de Pape in Avignon, temporary site of the Vatican during the 14th Century

 

 

The Papal Seal

 

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