Pasquino: The Quintessential Eavesdropper of Rome

For the purpose of giving you a proper welcome to our project, we thought it would be best to begin with an introduction to Pasquino: The Quintessential Eavesdropper of Rome. This intriguing character is often unassumingly passed by visitors on their way to or from their trek to Piazza Navona. This unfortunate fact in addition to its illustrious past are the reasons such a title has been bestowed upon him

While being made of motionless stone, this statue has been making moves in the city through his words for centuries. Starting in the fifteenth century, Roman citizens have been using this statue, as a posting ground for their anonymous grievances in relation to the various happenings within the city. These public satirical entries written in the Roman dialect are now known as Pasquinades, thus giving reference to this famous statue. Topics of discussion provided by Romans range from politics, religion, and everyday happenings.

Originally depicting the warrior Menelaus holding the slain body of Patroclus during the Trojan War, this work of art, due to considerable damage, contains little semblance to this image. However, despite this deteriorated façade, the significance and utilization of this statue have not degenerated over time. To this very day, Pasquino receives the written outcries of the Roman people and displays them with the same firmness as the rock that he is made of. Therefore, Pasquino is able to be both simultaneously quiet and talkative at the same time making him the prime example of eavesdropping in Rome.

Sources:

If This Statue Could Talk:

Statuary Satire in the Pasquinade Tradition

Christopher J. Gilbert

Il Pasquino

http://www.pasquinate.it/il-pasquino/