Artist: Alessandro Algardi

Date: 1646-1653

 

• The relief is Pope Leo I Meets Attila. This refers to the meeting in 452 of Pope Leo (440-461) and Attila the Hun (406-453). Pope Leo somehow encourages the barbarian Attila to spare Rome. Peter and Paul appear in the scene as spiritual protectors of the city

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• Pope Leo the Great was the first pope to be buried inside old St. Peter's. Previous popes had all be buried in the catacombs outside Rome's walls. His relics were moved under this altar in 1606