Artist: Bernini

Date: 1627 ca.

 

• Each of the four piers are dedicated to an important relic that is housed in the balcony area above each statue. The decorations were designed by Bernini for Pope Urban VIII (1623-1644). Thus Urban's VIII's coat of arms is at the base. The spiral columns are from the altar of old St. Peter's

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• The relic for this pier is the lance of Longinus. Sultan Bajazet II gave the lance to Pope Innocent VIII (1484-1492) in 1489. The Tomb of Innocent VIII in the left aisle also records the gift. According to the story, Longinus is the later name given to the solider who pierced Jesus with a lance (Jn 19:34) and the centurion who said "Truly, this man was the Son of God (Mk 15:39)