The Cantharus and Pigna at Old St. Peter's
Margaret Finch
Renaissance drawings by il Cronaca and Hollanda show the Pigna (pine cone) cantharus (or pool) of Old Saint Peter's enclosed a tabernacle. According to arguments reviewed at outset, arrived in eighth century. At issue are presence eight porphyry columns, provisions for fountain, marble slabs with reliefs griffins. In early medieval period, colossal bronze carried three-fold significance: religious, political, sepulchral. Religious meanings were attached pine cone antiquity. The shape was employed various cults as familiar sign rebirth. Political associations traceable Delphic omphalos, which supposedly marked center world. idea hub became part papal imagery echoed Rome Michelangelo's piazza on Capitoline Hill. Sepulchral connotations implicit because tapered tombs common Mediterranean Rome, such pyramidal called metae. Evidence dating conflated iconography comes from Charlemagne's palace Aachen. A installed there featured base bearing representations Four Rivers Paradise. When newly Peter's, atrium front church given name "Paradise." depict decorations canopy featuring animal motifs, including peacocks dolphins. Both artists improvise details architrave; shows cross, renders motifs taken repertory antique places sacrifice. nucleus Roman Church burial place St. Peter, founder Christian Rome.
Gesta