Bocca della Verità

Bocca della Verità
The Mouth of Truth.

La Bocca della Verità (in English, "the Mouth of Truth") is an image, carved from Pavonazzetto marble, of a man-like face, located in the portico of the church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin in Rome, Italy. The sculpture is thought to be part of a 1st century ancient Roman fountain, or perhaps a manhole cover, portraying one of several possible pagan gods,[1] probably Oceanus. Most Romans believe that the 'Bocca' represents the ancient god of the river Tiber.

The most famous characteristic of the Mouth, however, is its role as a lie detector. Starting from the Middle Ages, it was believed that if one told a lie with one's hand in the mouth of the sculpture, it would be bitten off. The piece was placed in the portico of the Santa Maria in Cosmedin in the 17th century. This church is also home to the supposed relics of Saint Valentine.

Contents

In popular culture

Scene from Roman Holiday

The Mouth of Truth is known to English-speaking audiences mostly from its appearance in the 1953 film Roman Holiday. The film also uses the Mouth of Truth as a storytelling device since both Hepburn's and Peck's characters are not initially truthful with each other.

This scene from Roman Holiday was parodied in the 2000 Japanese film Sleeping Bride by Hideo Nakata. It was also replicated in the film Only You starring Robert Downey Jr. and Marisa Tomei.

Replicas and similar sculptures

La Bocca della Verità, statue by Jules Blanchard, in the Luxembourg Garden, Paris.

Electronic coin-operated reproductions of the Mouth are found in fairgrounds of Spain and Hungary, at some motorway service stations in the UK and Croatia, usually together with photo booths. There is also a full size replica of the Mouth of Truth at the private Pikake Botanical Gardens in Valley Center, California.

There is a similar sculpture of a lion in Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu, India that, according to local lore, bites off one's hand if a lie is told.

In France at Parc Astérix, one reproduction of the Mouth is used as a bin and thanks the people dropping garbage down her throat.

Notes

  1. ^ BOCCA DELLA VERITA' facts and history

External links


Coordinates: 41°53′17″N 12°28′54″E / 41.88806°N 12.48167°E / 41.88806; 12.48167


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Bocca della Verità — Die Bocca della Verità (italienisch Mund der Wahrheit) ist ein scheibenförmiges Relief, das an der linken Wandseite in der Säulenvorhalle der römischen Kirche Santa Maria in Cosmedin angebracht ist. Der Name Bocca della Verità wurde erstmals …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Bocca della Verita — Bocca della Verità Die Bocca della Verità (Mund der Wahrheit) ist eine antike, marmorne Maske von ca. 1,75 m Durchmesser mit durchbrochenen Augen, Mund und Nasenlöchern. Das Relief befindet sich heute in der Vorhalle der im 6. Jahrhundert… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Bocca della verita — Bocca della Verità Die Bocca della Verità (Mund der Wahrheit) ist eine antike, marmorne Maske von ca. 1,75 m Durchmesser mit durchbrochenen Augen, Mund und Nasenlöchern. Das Relief befindet sich heute in der Vorhalle der im 6. Jahrhundert… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Bocca della verità — Die Bocca della Verità (Mund der Wahrheit) ist eine antike, marmorne Maske von ca. 1,75 m Durchmesser mit durchbrochenen Augen, Mund und Nasenlöchern. Das Relief befindet sich heute in der Vorhalle der im 6. Jahrhundert errichteten Kirche Santa… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Bocca Della Verità — La Bocca della Verità est un ancien masque en marbre muré dans la paroi du pronaos de l église Santa Maria in Cosmedin de Rome datant de 1632. Historique La sculpture, qui date du Ier siècle après J.C, a un diamètre de 1,75 m et représente un… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Bocca della Verita — Bocca della Verità Bocca della Verità La Bocca della Verità est un ancien masque en marbre muré dans la paroi du pronaos de l église Santa Maria in Cosmedin de Rome datant de 1632. Historique La sculpture, qui date du Ier siècle après J.C, a un… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Bocca della verità — La Bocca della Verità est un ancien masque en marbre muré dans la paroi du pronaos de l église Santa Maria in Cosmedin de Rome datant de 1632. Historique La sculpture, qui date du Ier siècle après J.C, a un diamètre de 1,75 m et représente un… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Bocca della verità — (ital., »Mund der Wahrheit«), kolossale antike Brunnenablaufmaske (aus der spätern Kaiserzeit) in der Vorhalle der Kirche Maria in Cosmedin zu Rom, mit der mittelalterlichen Sage, daß die alten Römer beim Schwören die Hand in das Mundloch stecken …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Bocca della Verità — La bocca della verità (boca de la verdad). La Boca de la verdad (en italiano: Bocca della Verità) es una antigua máscara de mármol pavonazzetto, colocado en la pared del pronaos de la Iglesia de Santa Maria in Cosmedin en Roma el año 1632. La… …   Wikipedia Español

  • Bocca della Verità — 41° 53′ 18″ N 12° 28′ 53″ E / 41.8882, 12.4815 …   Wikipédia en Français

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