Thursday, 21 February 2013

Angels and Demons


John Milton's poetry which was found in one of Galileo's books

"From Santi’s earthly tomb with demon’s hole
‘cross Rome the mystic elements unfold.
The path of light is laid, the sacred test.
Let angels guide you on your lofty quest!"

Galileo's path of Illumination forms a cross
The pantheon
Langdon thought the poem was talking about the tomb of Santi and the tomb was inside the Pantheon.
Raphael Santi's tomb
Inside of the Pantheon
The oculus at the Pantheon
the wrong 'demon's hole'

Santa Maria del Popolo
An Augustinian church located in Rome and stands to the north of Piazza del Popolo
Chigi chapel
One of the six chapels inside Santa Maria del Popolo
designed by Raphael as a tomb for his friend and patron banker Agostino Chigi. It was completed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini after Raphael's death in 1520.
Used to be called Capella della terra which means Chapel of the Earth
Habakkuk and the angel
The first Marker
Habakkuk was the prophet who predicted the annihilation of the Earth
St. Peter's square
Designed by bernini
The center is occupied by an Egyptian obelisk (second largest standing)

West Ponente
The second marker
The West wind also known as respiro di dio - breath of God

Santa Maria dela Vittoria
The third altar of science
A chapel dedicated to st Paul but was rededicated to the virgin Mary after the victory at the battle of white mountain
Ecstasy of St. Teresa
The third marker
A sculpture by Bernini which shows an angel piercing the heart of St. Teresa
The angel is a seraphim which means the fiery one
St. Agnes in Agony
the fourth altar of science
Fountain of the Four Rivers in Piazza Navona
The fourth marker
The masterpiece of Bernini. It glorifies the four major rivers of the old world: Nile, Ganges, Danube, and Rio plata
Piazza Navona

Bridge of Angels
There are twelve towering angels carved by Bernini
Castel Sant' Angelo
"...is a towering cylindrical building in Rome, initially commissioned by the Roman Emperor Hadrian as a mausoleum for himself and his family. The building was later used as a fortress and castle, and is now a museum."
"The Illuminati Lair"