The talking Statues of Rome

Romans are never at a loss

for words, anyone who spends any amount of time in the city will soon learn. Not everyone, however, realizes that some of the best talkers aren’t human-and, furthermore, that this has been the case for the past five hundred years. Six Roman statues have long served as a voice for the voiceless-or, for those voices which might be considered objectionable. Since 1501, when Pasquino began to talk, those with grievances about the city and its management have aired them by tacking notices on six of the city’s countless statues.

The anonymity of this method-messages could be posted under the cover of darkness-created a public forum where the rules of discussion were not as closely guided as those of the public sphere. Because these statues are on major street corners and busy piazzas, most of the Roman public could be reached in this way. Even the pope himself was not safe from the invective of the talking statues (though, to be sure, messages could always be torn down by the offended). Though the talking statues did not have actual voices, they certainly did have a way with words. And since they are all relatively close together, an hour or two is enough to visit them all.

1. Pasquino

Piazza di Pasquino

Pasquino holds pride of primacy amongst the talking statues in Rome. Placed here in 1501 by Cardinal Carafa, he began to talk soon afterwards, perhaps, some speculate, at the instigation of a nearby tailor famous for his wit. The statue of Pasquino would appear to have once been of Patroclus dying in the arms of Menelaus (a scene from the Iliad), but it’s hard to tell by looking at the poor guy. From Pasquino’s name derives the English word “pasquinade,” fiery invective. While various popes threatened to have Pasquino destroyed, fear of a public reprisal kept him in position to this very day, and he still talks up a storm.
2. L’Abate Luigi

Piazza Vidoni

The Abbott Luigi is famous for having his head stolen more times than any of the other talking statues. His name may come from a certain Sacristan Luigi at the nearby church of Sant’Andrea della Valle. Maybe not.

3. Marforio

Capitoline Museums

Marforio, alas, has been called off of active duty and moved to the Capitoline Museums, where he now reclines in the courtyard of the Palazzo dei Conservatori, with a bunch of dumb statues who are not fit company for such a presence. “Marforio” got his name from the area where he was found-the Forum of Mars. Before being retired, he was found in the church of San Giuseppe dei Falegnami, above the Mamertine Prison. Back in those days, he was Pasquino’s chief rival. No longer. Marforio is out of commission.
4. Il Babuino

Via del Babuino

Il Babuino may be the least famous of the talking statues, but he’s certainly not a baboon. Rather, he was once a figure of the wine-drinker Silenus, made by Pope Pius V in the 16th century to decorate a fountain. Il Babuino had the misfortune to be moved all over the city, and as such, never really gained any fixed identity.

5. Il Facchino

off Via del Corso

Il Facchino is the only one of the talking statues that seems to be connected to a real person. One Abbondio Rizio, a water-carrier, brought water to people in bottles, as does Il Facchino. It’s supposed that the bottle he carries was done by Michelangelo. It’s also said that his face is that of Martin Luther, who stayed nearby in 1511. But anything’s possible.
6. Madame Lucrezia

Piazza Venezia

The lonely (but not particularly lovely) lady in this motley assemblage of talking statues, Madama Lucrezia was originally either a bust of the goddess Isis or the empress Faustina. There was a Lucrezia who lived nearby, who kindly lent the statue her name. Roman tradition held that there was no better to start your day than to bow to Madama Lucrezia. For much of the nineteenth century, a strange dance performed by the city’s clowns took place in front of Madama Lucrezia on the first of May.

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