The Fountains of Rome

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The Fountain of the Lateran Obelisk

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The Fountain of the Lateran Obelisk

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It is not known who designed the Fountain of the Lateran Obelisk (Fontana dell' Obelisco Lateranense), which sports the heraldic arms of both Pope Clement VIII (r. 1592-1605) and Pope Paul V (r. 1605-21). The prominence of the eagle and dragon indicates that the fountain was completed during the reign of Paul V, who was a member of the Borghese family. (An eagle and a dragon make up the Borghese family's coat of arms.)

The ancient Egyptian Obelisk, the tallest in the world, was erected in 1588, at the behest of Pope Sixtus V (r. 1585-90). 

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