Touring Aventino Hill in Rome

January 6, 2014

One of the senior couples was in Rome and spent the night at the villa.  The next morning we took a couple of hours before the missionary e-mails started coming in to go sightseeing.  They complete their mission is less than four months and have a goal to see all seven of the churches included in the pilgrimage before they return home.  Two of those churches are on Aventino Hill in Rome so we headed out to help them reach their goal. 

Bascilica of Sant Sabina

Presepi (nativity set) in church that was patterned after the Rome wall - The thing that makes the presepi's neat is that each one is very individualized.  Once the background is purchased (it can be a stable or a cave or an entire mountainside or village) then you can create whatever theme you want by purchasing different figures and accents.  Presipe's can be very simple or extremely elaborate.

Close up of Rome wall on presepi

Top panel is oldest known depiction of the crucifixion.

Overview of Rome from Aventino Hill

This park is adjacent to the Basilica of Santa Sabina.  It has the best view of the city.

I don't know the name of the park (parco) but I always refer to it as Aventino Parco because it's on Aventino hill.

Bocca della Verita or Mouth of Truth

The Bocca della Verita is an image carved from marble of a man-like face that is located in the portico of the church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin in Rome.  According to legend, the face's mouth closes if a liar sticks his hand in it.  The Mormon missionaries think it is fun to put their hand in it while holding a Book of Mormon.  When the mouth doesn't close, they immediately say the book must be true.  The book is true, but it has nothing to do with the Mouth of Truth stone.

Historians aren't really certain about the original purpose of the disc.   Some think it was possibly a drain cover used in the nearby Temple of Hercules Invictus.  Another possibility is that cattle merchants might have used it to drain the blood of cattle sacrificed to the god Hercules.  The most recent theory is that it is a symbolic representation of the divine form of the god Faunus and that it was never intended as a drain cover but has always been attached to a wall.  Because of the kind of marble and the workmanship on the face, it is estimated that it's creation dated prior to the fourth century before Christ.

The marble disc is now famous for the medieval legend that is associated with it.  People believed that the mouth of the marble face would close if anyone put his hand in it and told a lie. Those who were accused of committing perjury or adultery were brought here.  They had to swear under oath and then put their hand into the mouth.  According to the legend it was even used during the Middle Ages as a trial by ordeal.  An executioner would hide behind the disc with a sharp sword ready to strike.  Today the Mouth of Truth is popular because it was featured in the movie "Roman Holiday".

Santa Maria in Cosmedin

Santa Maria in Cosmedin is a Greek Orthodox church in Rome and is on the list of the seven churches that are visited during the annual pilgrimage.  The church is famous for two main reasons.  Tourists flock to the entrance of the church because it contain the Bocca di Verita' or Mouth of Truth.  Those who venture inside the actual church are able to see part of the remains or relics of St. Valentine.

Santa Maria in Cosmedin - The big line of people are waiting to see the Bocca di Verita'

Relics of Saint Valentine

Forum Boarium

The Forum Boarium is right across the street from the Cosmedin church and was the site of ancient Rome's cattle market.  Together with the nearby Forum Olitorium, the vegetable and herb market, it was the mercantile center of the Republic of Rome.  It is now home two two small temples which are among the best preserved religious structures from Rome's republican era (between 509 and 44 BC.

The smaller round building is the Temple of Hercules Victor ad Portam Trigeminam, one of the temples built in honor of the god Hercules.  The temple dates from the end of the second century BC.  The temple is remarkably well preserved considering the fact it is considered the oldest marble temple in Rome.

Temple of Hercules

The second temple at the Forum Boarium is the Temple of Portunus, dedicated to the god Portunus, protector of seafarers and harbors.  The first temple on the site was built in the early 6th century BC, but was restored around 80 BC and that is what is seen today.

Temple of Portunus

Ponte Rotto

Ponte Rotto translated means broken bridge.  This bridge is very, very near the Forum Boarium.  The bridge and the river aided in making Forum Boarium a successful marketplace.  The bridge was built in the 2nd Century BC.  Today there is another functioning bridge next to it.

Ponte Rotto

The bridge is a haven for birds.

Helping Hands

Just as we were ready to leave, some girls from Korea asked Michael to show them where they were on the map.  He was happy to oblige and they left with a smile on their faces and pass-a-long cards in their hands.