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Anchor 1 ▼ ▲ ▶ Crucifix Chapel Artist: Unknown Date: 1965 ca. • The tomb is Funeral Monument of Cardinal Clemente Micara. Cardinal Micara (1879-1965) was titular of this church (1946-1965)

Anchor 1 ▼ Chapel of Pius IX Artist: Ludwig Seitz Date: 1890 ca. • St. Peter is on the left and St. Paul on the right ▲ ▶ ◀

Anchor 1 ▼ SS. Nereo e Achilleo •

Anchor 1 ▼ Chapel of St. Helen ▲

Anchor 1 ▼ Arch of the Bells

Anchor 1 ▶ Interior Church established: 1670 • The church is elliptical in shape and is a combination of polychrome marbles. The dual pairs of fluted red and white cottanello columns support an architrave that bends with the church • The carrara marble pilasters form eight chapels. These chapels were designed by Mattia De Rossi who was an assistant to Bernini • The Corinthian columns have the Pampili dove with an olive branch sitting on them • The arches opening to the side altars are cottanello marble with Sicilian jasper friezes and spandrels ▲ ◀

Anchor 1 ▼ ▶ ◀ Tomb of Pope Sylvester II

Anchor 1 ▼ Epitaph of Benedict VII • Inscription of Pope Benedict VII (974-983) which notes the founding of the monastery which is next to this church. Benedict VII was buried in the old basilica called the Sessorian Palace which was the residence of St. Helen (246-330 ca)

Anchor 1 ▼ ◀ ▶ Ponziani Chapel • This chapel is tied to St. Francis of Rome (1384-1440) • The husband of St. Francis of Rome was of the Ponziani family • The children of St. Francis of Rome, Evangelista and Agnes, are buried in the chapel

Anchor 1 ▼ ▶ ◀ Niches Artist: Allegretti; Fabi-Altini; Gallori; Maccagnani Date: 1882 • This statue is of the apostle St. Philip • The statues of the ten apostles that are found in the niches were created by various artists. The statues of Peter and Paul are under the main arch

Anchor 1 ▼ ▲ ◀ St. Paul of the Cross • St. Paul of the Cross lived from 1694-1775

Anchor 1 ▼ Nave Artist: Alessandro Algardi (design) Date: 1650 • The relief on the right is Joseph is sold into slavery. This story can be found in the Bible at Genesis 37:1-36 • The relief on the left is Moses crosses the Red Sea. This story can be found in the Bible at Exodus 14:1-31 • The prophet on the upper right is Joel. The prophet on the upper left is Obadiah ▶ ◀

Anchor 1 ▶ Presbytery and Choir Artist: Antonio da Sangallo il Giovane Date: 1541 • The tomb is the Funeral Monument of Leo X. Giovanni de' Medici became Pope Leo X (1513-1521) • The Statue of Leo X is of Raffaello da Montelupo • The Statues of the Prophets on the right and left are from Baccio Bandinelli • The bas-reliefs above are The Meeting between Leo X and Francis II, The Baptism of Jesus, and Miracle of St. Julian by Baccio Bandinelli ▼

Anchor 1 ▼ Ceiling Artist: Corrado Giaquinto Date: 1744 • The painting is Apparition of the Holy Cross • The coat of arms is of Pope Benedict XIV (1740-1758)

Anchor 1 ▼ Chapel of Blessed Nicholas Albergati Artist: Stefano Pozzi • The altarpiece is Blessed Nicholas Albergati • Albergati (1375-1443) was a previous archpriest of S. Maria Maggiore

Anchor 1 Crucifix Chapel • This chapel has a Gothic entrance with a crucifix within ▲ ▶ ◀ ▼

Anchor 1 ▼ Triumphal Arch Artist: Unknown Date: 400s • This 5th century mosaic from the original church mostly survived the fire. The mosaic may have been redone around 800 • In the center, Jesus makes a Byzantine blessing. Above are the 4 gospel writers' symbols. On the sides, the 24 elders with crowns from Revelation, 2 angels, Peter, and Paul indicate his tomb below • The inscription above reads: "Theodosius began [and] Honorius completed the building made sacred by the body of Paul, teacher of the world" • The inscription on the arch: "Placidia rejoices that, as a result of Pope Leo's concern, the beauty of her father's work is again resplendent." This is noting Leo I's (440-461) restoration after a natural disaster ▲ ▶ ◀

Anchor 1

Anchor 1 ▼ Longinus Artist: Bernini Date: 1635-1638 • The statue is Longinus. 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) • Each of the four piers are dedicated to an important relic that is housed in the balcony area above each statue. The statues are all 16 feet 6 inches high. 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

Anchor 1 ▲ ▶ ◀ Portico • Pope Clement XII (1730-1740) commissioned the portico and facade which was completed in 1735