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 true cross of St. Helena. The piece of the cross was given to St. Peter's by Pope Urban VIII. St. Helena was the mother of Constantine who legalized Christianity in 313. St. Helena traveled to Jerusalem in order to find the cross that Jesus was crucified on