150 YEARS OF THE NAZARETH SISTERS

In the footsteps of Blessed Frances Siedliska in Rome (49)

Sr. M. Beata Rudzińska, CSFN

Quirinal (1880) – Fountain of the Dioscuri

Right in the middle of the road between the Pallavicini and Quirinal Palaces stands the impressive Fountain of the Dioscuri – today the only witness to the history of this place dating back to the beginnings of Rome. Although the fountain combines elements from different eras, it does not lack harmonious beauty.

The oldest elements of the fountain are the statues of the Dioscuri, the twins Castor and Pollux, sons of Zeus and Lea, heroes of many events described in Greek mythology. They were models not only of courage and nobility, but also of sincere brotherly love. When Castor fell dead in one of the battles, Pollux, who unlike his brother was immortal, begged Zeus to turn them both into stars so that they could always be together. This is one of the most popular interpretations of the name of the Gemini constellation, whose center is formed by two stars of almost equal brightness – the heads of the two brothers. The remaining stars form the outline of their figures holding hands.

The statues of the Dioscuri, which today form part of the fountain, most likely stood in the Temple of Serapis, built in the 3rd century. After its demolition, they were moved to the nearby Baths of Constantine. Today, no trace remains of these two enormous structures, except for the statues of Castor and Pollux. However, these became so closely associated with the Quirinal that for a time the Quirinal was called Monte Cavallo (Horse Hill) after the steeds that accompany the brothers. To this day, the Fountain of the Dioscuri is also called the Fontana di Monte Cavallo, and the steep road leading to the Quirinal is called Salita di Montecavallo. The statues were restored in the 16th century when the papal residence was built on the Quirinal. Over time, an Egyptian obelisk and a fountain basin from the ancient Roman Forum were added.

The explanation for the current name of the hill, Quirinal, dates back even further to the beginnings of Rome. According to one of the well-known legends, the Sabines, who lived on this hill, were abducted by the Romans from the neighboring Palatine Hill. The abduction of the Sabine women, first described by Cicero, has inspired many painters and sculptors over the centuries. The deity worshipped by the Sabines was Quirinus (Latin: Quirinus). Around the 4th century BC, a temple was built here in his honor. The hill took its name from him.

Photos:
Fountain of the Dioscuri – CSFN
Pietro da Cortona, The Rape of the Sabine Women, 1627-29 – Public domain