Il Babuino, The Baboon, Rome

On our way to our next destination we passed by a very ugly looking 16th century statue. Known as Il Babuino, the baboon, it is one of six famous “talking statues”, collectively known as the Congregation of Wits.

Beginning in the 16th century, the people of Rome would leave criticisms and witticisms at these statues. The unfriendly remarks were often about the Pope and the government authorities. Various Popes tried to stop the spread of such messages by either moving the statues or having them guarded, although their efforts were in vain.

Il Babuino was originally meant to depict Silenus, a half-man, half-goat satyr from Roman mythology. However, people decided that the statue was so ugly, it actually looked more like a baboon. After so much beauty, it was surprising to see an ugly statue being preserved.Læs mere