S2:E11 | Vatican City

Por Nathan Tsai

26 de September de 2017

A quick thank-you

Unlike the previous photos on this trip, I will be annotating some of the photo-sets below. This is primarily because St. Peter's Basilica and the surrounding area in Vatican City is just so inundated with culture and history. Some of these pictures capture some strange quirks and foibles within the Vatican that are just...interesting.

I was fortunate enough to be able to get up-close and personal with much of Vatican City because of the generosity and kindness of all the members of the Taiwanese (ROC) Embassy to the Holy See. I am especially thankful to the ambassador, his assistants, and the amazing padre who took a few hours of his time to take us through the basilica and around the grounds.

I've not included some of the more mundane photos of the church simply because a quick Google search shows that others have done it much better than I have. I'm more interested in showing some of the things I learned and was awed by.

The back door

Inside St. Peter's

St. Peter's Apse

There are a few interesting things that I learned while standing before the iconic altar and the throne under the dome.

Most apparent was the size. I've seen many pictures and depictions of the famed sculpture and altar, but officially, the sculpture measures more than 45 meters tall—almost 150 feet high. It's also a gloriously beautiful scene. The brilliant orange window surrounded by gilt rays and cherubs illuminate the giant bronze throne. This in turn, is held up by four massive saints who stand protectively over the altar. It's really something to behold.

Size isn't all that matters either. According to legend, the skeleton of an ancient wooden chair lies ensconced within the throne itself. This chair—the faithful claim—dates back to the early days of Christianity and was the cathedra that St. Peter sat on as he preached to his congregation.

Pope Clement's Lions

On the far right side of the basilica, there is a monumental tomb to memorialize Pope Clement XIII's legacy in the Church. The pope kneels in prayer as he is bracketed on either side by religion (left) and genius (right). The first neoclassical sculpture to be added to St. Peter's, it is considered to be a masterpiece in its own right. While the beautiful stone, the flowing robes, and the stern heroism of the three characters are certainly attractive, what really drew my attention were the two lions lying in wait and guarding the foot of the tomb.

The lion on the left was particularly fascinating to examine closer. When facing the statue, the lion looks like it's snarling and vicious—guarding the pope with the ferocity one would expect from a lion. Facing the lion up close reveals a different portrait entirely. Here, the wide eyes look searchingly out and away from the pope; an image of loyal vigilance.

Rotating around the lion and facing the rear, the sculpture morphs into something else entirely. With a little bit of squinting and a small dose of imagination, the lion's rump looks almost like an elephant. The trunk of the elephant protrudes from the back and swings to the right, the rest of the face extends from the surface at the same plane, and the large ears on either side are set back and flop away from the face.

This particular animal sculpture encapsulates the idea behind the leadership and strategy behind the might of an institution like the Catholic church. Those in power must fiercely defend their beliefs and loyally protect their subjects like a lion yet they must also possess the wisdom and peacefulness of an elephant.

The Archangel Michael

At first glance, this graceful portrait of St. Michael Archangel just appears to be a beautifully painted duplicate of the original painting by Guido Reni located in Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini. Upon closer examination, this giant "painting" is composed of tens of thousands of tiny glass pieces which come together to form one of the most visually impressive mosaics I have ever seen.

SEven perspectives on the dome

What's really neat about the gardens and the surrounding paths in and about Vatican City is that they all seem to be designed to showcase the imperious dome of St. Peter's from every possible angle.