The Four Rivers Fountain by Bernini
Piazza Navona
Rome Italy
2016
by Jennifer

It is better to be a lion for a day than a sheep all your life

hear me roar

QUOTE: A Little ZEN for your Thoughts

For thousands of years, the fountains of Rome have been an essential part of life in the Eternal City. Before indoor plumbing made its way into local homes, fountains were the primary means in which Romans gathered fresh water. The tradition of fountains survived millennia of Roman history, and they’re still an essential part of the city. And one of the most iconic is the Fountain of the Four Rivers, in the heart of Piazza Navona.

https://www.romesightseeing.net/the-fountain-of-the-four-rivers/

The Four Rivers Fountains sits right in the middle of Piazza Navona, in the Centro Storico of Rome, work of Bernini’s genius. The impressive fountain faces the church of Sant’Agnese in Agone, which was constructed by Borromini, Bernini’s eternal rival!
Hence, in the middle of the Baroque era, Pope Innocenzo X commissioned Bernini the construction of a fountain to give the square a new amazing aspect! On June 12th 1651 the Four Rivers Fountain was completed and showed to the public. The work left the public astonished!

The Four colossal figures seated in contrasting poses represent the four great rivers: the Nile, the Ganges, the Rio de la Plata and the Danube. On top of the fountain rises a bronze dove, symbol of the Holy Spirit and emblem of Pope Innocenzo X patron of the work. The Fountain clearly intended to celebrate the supremacy of the Papacy over the world, represented by the four rivers crossing the continents known at the time: Europe, America, Asia and Africa.
In the middle of the fountain there’s an ancient obelisk brought there from the Circus of Maxentius along the ancient Appian Way.

The the head of the sculpture representing the Nile river is covered with a veil since the sources of the river were unknown. On the left there’s a palm tree and you can clearly spot the head of lion drinking from the fountain.

The Ganges is holding an oar to symbolize the navigability of the river.
The Danube can be recognized from the crown of flowers and from the horse rising from the stone.

Eventually, the Rio del la Plata shows a terrified expression. Some says that the expression is caused by the snake laying on a rock, cherishing a treasure of coins. Other say that the Rio de la Plata is covering his face from the Church of Sant’Agnese built by Borromini because Bernini thought it was ugly.