Album: By Country | By Date Italy | February 2001 < Prev Image | Papal Blessing and More Walking Around | Next Image >
Travelogue: By Country | By Date Italy | February 2001  

 

The Mouth of Truth (Bocca della Verita). It's under the portico of the church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin, across the street from the Temple of Huercules. It is believed that the huge face was a drain outlet for the Cloaca Maxima, the great sewer built by the Tarquin kinds to drain marshy areas of the city. It is called the "mouth of truth" because according to medieval legend, anyon putting their hand inside after telling a lie would get bitten. Monica is still recovering.

© Monica & Mark Hughes 2000-02