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The Mouth of Truth (Bocca della Verità) is an ancient image carved into a round slab of Pavonaz marble (marmo pavonazzetto).
A gloomy face of the lord of the seas and oceans, Triton, is installed at the portico of Santa Maria in Cosmedin church. The church is located on the left bank of the Tiber River, on the site of ancient Roman buildings. Scientists believe that the landmark is about 2,200 years old, and the Romans are convinced that it is impossible to tell a lie under the harsh gaze of a mask!
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Description
The Mouth of Truth in Rome is a time-worn marble disc, the dimensions of which are: 175 cm in diameter, 19 cm in thickness, weight – about 1200 kg.
The outlines of a man’s face are engraved on the disc. The eyes, nostrils, and Mouth are made in the form of holes. The purpose of this subject has not yet been precisely clarified. The most true-to-life version is the decor of the fountain or the cover of the sewer manhole in ancient Rome.
The person depicted on the disc also remains a mystery: Ocean, Triton, the God of the Tiber, Faun. And these are just the most popular versions.
According to the ancient almanac of travelers “Mirabilia Urbis Romae” (11th century), the Mouth of Truth is endowed with the mystical power of oracles. “Take your interlocutor to the Faun’s mask, and you will understand whether he is telling you a truth or a lie.”.
- Read about the Triton fountain (Fontana dei Tritoni), which is close to the Mouth of Truth.
Legends about the Mouth of Truth
In the Middle Ages, the Mouth of Truth acquired its current status as a “lie detector” thanks to the poet Virgilio Grammatico. Virgil, who diligently practiced magic, believed that husbands and wives who doubted each other’s loyalty would be able to find out the truth in front of a stone face. In the 15th century, another legend appeared. According to it a female cunning can surpass the Mouth of Truth. It was believed that a woman suspected of treason should put her hand in the Mouth of a stone deity. The innocent will remain intact, and the one who has sinned will lose her hand.
One day, a harum-scarum wife of a Roman nobleman was judged by the Mouth of Truth. At that moment, when the woman was about to put her fingers in the stone mouth, a blessed one ran out of the crowd, hugged and kissed her. They drove the madman away with kicks, and continued the trial. When asked if she was touched and kissed by some other man besides her legal husband, Donna pointed only to a madman. Fearlessly placing her hand in her stone lips, she remained in full health.. After all, the judges and the honorable spouse did not realize that the role of the insane man was played by her lover..
The name “Mouth of Truth” was assigned to the disc in the middle of the 15th century. Only in 1632 only the Pope Urban VIII Barberini (Urbano VIII Barberini) ordered to install it vertically. At the very beginning, it was installed directly at the entrance to the church and then was moved to the portico.
The Mouth of Truth in Art
- In the 15th century, the Danish engraver Lucas van Leyden created a series of works. He named them “The Power of Women,” where the Mouth of Truth appears.
- English-speaking countries got to know the Mouth in 1953 when the picture ‘Roman Holliday’ appeared on the widescreen.
Interestingly, the ancient artifact acted as the voice of truth for the heroes played by Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn since they were not honest with each other.
- In 2000, a scene from Roman Holiday was recreated in the Japanese film ‘Sleeping Bride’ by Hideo Nakata.
Similar references were also used in the American melodrama ‘Only You’ with Robert Downey Jr. and Marisa Tomei. - IIn 1968, a futuristic novel under the name Nightwings by American writer Robert Silverberg was published. Events take place in the distant future, in a city that is a sci-fi cast of Rome. The climactic scene unfolds in front of the Mouth of Truth, where the main characters reveal their secrets.
- Additionally, the image of the mask is used as a decoration for the fortune-telling ticket machines manufactured by DPS-Promatic. Mechanical oracles are famous in Italy, Britain, Spain, China, Japan, Turkey. In the botanical parks of the USA and France, you can also find an imitation of a mysterious antique disc.
How to get to the Mouth of Truth, opening hours
- Address: Piazza della Bocca della Verità, 18
- Bus: №51,81,85,87,118,160,628,715,С3 (Greca bus station), № 44,83,160,170,716,781,С3 (Bocca della Verit bus station), №23,280 (Lungotevere Aventino).
- By metro: line B, Circo Massimo metro station.
- On the map of Rome there is another attraction dedicated to the Mouth of Truth — the Fontana di Bocca della Verità fountain. It is located nearby the Bocca della Verità bus stop.
- Opening Hours: the Church of Saint (Santa) Maria in Cosmedin and its surroundings are open to the public daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m
- Tickets: Admission is free, waiting in line for about 10-20 minutes.
- Vending machine manufacturer website: dps-promatic.com
