Vatican City, Italy (Enclave of Rome): Vatican Museums: Pio Clementino Museum: Floor Mosaic of Athena
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Authors
Sheppard, Beth M.
Issue Date
20-May-19
Type
Image
Language
Keywords
Italy , Vatican City , Rome , Vatican Museums , Musei Vaticani , Pio Clementino Museum , Museo Pio Clementino , Musei di Scultura , Sculpture Museums , Art Museums , Sacred Art , Church Art , Greek Antiquities , Roman Antiquities , Floor Mosaics , Mosaics , Tessellated Mosaics , Monohedral Tiles , Athena in Art
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Abstract
Multiple photos are associated with this record. Please click the links to view all of the items in the series. The photos are images of a colorful tessellated floor mosaic within the Pio Clementino Museum, which is part of the Vatican Museums. These are public museums that display about 20,000 of 70K works collected by the Catholic Church and the papacy throughout the centuries. The museums were founded by Pope Julius II in the early 16th century. Only the Louvre in France receives more annual visitors than the Vatican Museums. The museums consist of 24 galleries, with the Sistine Chapel being the last room visited. The Pio Clementino Museum is the largest complex of the Vatican Museums. It is named after its founders, Pope Clement XIV and Pope Pius VI. Its twelve rooms contain the most important Greek and Roman masterpieces. This floor mosaic is in the Greek Cross Hall at the entrance of the Pio Clementino. It is of the tessellated variety. Tessellated mosaics employ repeating geometric shapes to create an image. In this mosaic, the central medallion of Athena is the focal point. Athena was the Greek goddess of wisdom, war, and handicrafts. The tiles of the mosaic are monohedral, or all the same shape. The photos were rotated in order for the medallion to appear upright; hence, the upside down feet of tourists in the lower left of the photos.
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License
CC BY-NC-SA 4.0