The face depicted on this artwork is said to be the one of Jove, even if other sources hypotize that it could be the face of a Faunus.
The stone was actually a manhole cover, probably from the Cloaca Maxima, Rome’s biggest sewer system, designed by the Etruscan Kings back in 6th Century B.C. but was so beautiful that they decided to save if from loss or destruction, relocating it in the church’s outer part. Originally it was kept outside the Basilica’s perimeter, but then in 1631 the Pope Urbanus VIII Barberini, taking advantage of some restoration works that were carried out in the Basilica, decided to move this object inside the church’s portico, in order to protect it from weather aggression and from vandalism in night time.
Many are the stories and legends related to this object which has, over centuries, become one of Rome’s landmarks: in the Ancient times it was believed to have the power to be an oracle, while in the Middle Age people believed this was the creation of a Mage in order to test people’s honesty, especially in matters of matrimonial fidelity. Whoever put his/her hand in the “mouth” and could safely pull it out, would prove his/her honesty.This belief remained till today, and this is why nowadays we can see long queues of tourists waiting in the line to take a souvenir picture with their hand in the mask’s “mouth”.
