Tuesday 29th September

10 AM PST
1 PM EST
6 PM BST
7 PM CEST

With Dr. Eireann Marshall

The title Pontifex Maximus, an ancient Roman priesthood which became part of the titulature of Roman emperors starting with Augustus, began to be formally applied to Popes in the Renaissance, at a time when Italy, and Rome in particular, began to emulate its ancient antecedents. The use of this title inevitably gave the Pope the aura of a Roman emperor, something which is evident in the dedicatory inscriptions to the many churches and public monuments which testify to the munificence of the Pontifex Maximus. Like Roman emperors, Popes shaped the Eternal City moulding it to suit their images. In common with its ancient counterpart, Renaissance Rome, in particular, was the battle ground for a number of Papal Families who competed with one another for grandeur and power.

In this virtual tour, we will explore how Popes tried to replicate the building programmes of Roman emperors in a number ways, notably the construction of the Piazza di San Pietro finished under Alexander VII mirroring the shape of Trajan’s forum. We will be exploring the Pope’s building programmes, including their placement of the many obelisks throughout Rome, writing their names beside those of the emperors who first erected them. Conversely, we will look at how Popes dismantled famous buildings erected in the Roman period, famously the Colosseum which was first raided for its building materials by Nicholas V. This was continued until Benedict XIV declared the amphitheatre a sacred site in the belief that Christians were martyred there. Urban VIII famously removed bronze tiles from the Pantheon in order to ordain the Basilica of Saint Peter. In addition, to viewing the building programmes of Popes, we will be exploring the works of the great Papal Families who vied with each other for grandeur, including the Pamphilj who transformed Domitian’s Stadium into the Piazza Navona we know today.