Ponte Sant' Angelo

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Map

Ponte Sant' Angelo

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The Ponte Sant’ Angelo was constructed in 134, during the reign of the emperor Hadrian (r. 117-138). The bridge was first known as Pons Aelius and served as a triumphal approach from the city to the mausoleum that Hadrian (whose full name was Publius Aelius Hadrianus) had just had built. 

The bridge was later called the Pons Sancti Petri, as it was used by pilgrims to reach St Peter's Basilica. It was only at the end of the sixth century that it came to be known as the Ponte Sant' Angelo, following the transformation of the mausoleum into the Castel Sant’ Angelo. 

Only the central three arches belong to the original bridge, the other two arches were added at the end of the 19th century when the embankments were constructed. 

In 1667 Pope Clement IX (r. 1667-69) commissioned the great Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1598-1680) to add ten statues of angels, bearing the Instruments of Christ's Passion, to the parapets of the bridge. Each angel stands on a pedestal, which bears an inscription in Latin.

Bernini carved two of the angels himself, but farmed the rest of the work out to various fellow sculptors, including Ercole Ferrata, Cosimo Fancelli and Antonio Raggi. The master did, however, provide sketches and terracotta models of the whole series to ensure an acceptable degree of conformity. The two statues by Bernini are now in the church of Sant' Andrea delle Fratte, having been replaced by copies. ​​​

The ten angels are:

The Angel with the Column, Antonio Raggi
TRONVS MEA IN COLVMNA
(My throne is upon a column)

The Angel with the Whip, Lazzaro Morelli
IN FLAGELLA PARATVS SVM
(I am ready for the whip)

The Angel with the Crown of Thorns, Paolo Naldini
IN AERVMNA MEA DVM CONFIGITVR SPINA
(In my agony while it is pierced with thorns)

The Angel with Veronica's Veil, Cosimo Fancelli
​RESPICE IN FACIEM CHRISTI FVI
(Look upon the face of thine anointed)

The Angel with the Garment and Dice, Paolo Naldini
​​SVPER VESTEM MEAM MISERVNT SORTEM
(They have cast lots for my garment) 

The Angel with the Nails, Girolamo Lucenti
ASPICIANT AD ME QVEM CONFIXERVNT
(Let them look upon me whom they have crucified)

The Angel with the Cross, Ercole Ferrata
CVIVS  PRINCIPATVS SVPER HVMERVM EIVS
(Whose lordship is upon his shoulder)

The Angel with the Titulus, Giulio Cartari
REGNAVIT A LIGNO DEVS
(God has reigned from a tree)

The Angel with the Sponge, Antonio Giorgetti
POTAVERVNT ME ACETO
(They have given me vinegar to drink)

The Angel with the Lance, Domenico Guidi
VVLNERASTI COR MEVM
(Thou has wounded my heart)

St Peter by Lorenzetto

In addition to the ten angels, there are two statues of Saint Peter (Lorenzetto, 1490-1541) and Saint Paul (Paolo Romano, died after 1470). 

St Paul

The statues of Rome's two patron saints were set up at the behest of Pope Clement VII (r. 1523-34) in 1534. The inscription below St Peter reads: HINC HVMILIBVS VENIA (Hence pardon for the humble) and that below St Paul: HINC RETRIBVTIO SVPERBIS (Hence retribution for the haughty). 

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