Mausoleum, fortress, papal residence, prison and finally a museum: the history of Castel Sant’Angelo, also known as the Castle of the Holy Spirit, is one of the longest and most complex in the history of Rome.
You are reminded of this long, complex history as you walk along the Ponte Sant’Angelo, lined with dynamic sculptures of angels depicting various symbols of Christianity. And then you come face to face with this magnificent, circular structure that has been standing on the banks of the Tiber for around 2,000 years. But as your eyes drift to the top of Castel Sant’Angelo, your attention is drawn once again to an important Christian symbol: the statue of Archangel Michael sheathing his sword.
The second pair of angels on the Ponte Sant’Angelo. The one on the right holds the crown of thorns, that according to the gospel, Jesus wore and the one on the right holds the veil that Veronica used to wipe his face.
The baroque sculptures of the angels on either side of the bridge and the one perched atop Castel Sant’Angelo are nothing like their giant counterpart in terms of architecture. Their construction is separated by more than 1,000 years. And yet, their beauty appears to blend seamlessly into each other while continuing to draw attention to the ever-changing roles that Castel Sant’Angelo played in its long history.
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The Mausoleum of Hadrian
Castel Sant’Angelo was constructed in the 2nd c. AD to act as the mausoleum of Hadrian. It houses the remains of several Roman emperors and their family members.
The history of Castel Sant’Angelo dates back to the 2nd century AD when Hadrian had this monument constructed as a mausoleum for himself and his family members. Its structure was inspired by the mausoleum of Augustus that stood not far away in the Campus Martius. The dimensions of Hadrian’s monument though, were much larger than that of Augustus’ and it is possible that Hadrian wanted to rival his predecessor.
Castel Sant’Angelo or the Hadrianum as it was called, was completed in 139 AD, one year after the death of Hadrian. His remains were interred there by Antoninus Pius. It then became the resting place for several Roman emperors and their family members and the last to be buried there was Caracalla. Some of the most prominent Romans laid to rest here include Hadrian and his wife Vibia Sabina, Antoninus Pius and his wife Faustina Maggiore, Marcus Aurelius, Commodus, Septimius Severus and his wife Giulia Domna, Geta and Caracalla.
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The Legend behind the name Sant’Angelo
The history of Castel Sant’Angelo is versatile, with the monument changing functions several times in its long history. The first change occurred in 403 AD when it completely lost its original function. The emperor Honorius made it a part of the Aurelian walls and from a mausoleum, it was turned into a building used for defensive purposes. This was the period when it began to be called Castellum.
The name Castel Santangelo originated in AD 590 when Rome was devastated by a plague. According to legend, Pope Gregory I organised a procession to pray for forgiveness in the hope of ending the plague. As he passed the site of Castel Sant-Angelo, he saw a vision.
He saw the archangel Michael atop the monument, sheathing his sword.
In 590 AD, Pope Gregory I saw a vision of Saint Michael sheathing his sword atop Castel Sant’Angelo. This was an important occurrence in the history of Castel Sant’Angelo.
This act of putting away his sword was taken as a sign from heaven that the plague was about to end. When the plague ended, as an act of gratitude, Pope Gregory erected a church dedicated to Saint Michael on the summit of the monument. In the 13th century a statue was constructed on top of Castel Sant’Angelo depicting Saint Michael sheathing his sword. This sighting by Pope Gregory was one of the most important occurrences in the history of Castel Sant’Angelo as it marks the point when the monument was first used for religious purposes.
The Middle Ages to the Present
The fifth pair of angels on the Ponte Sant’Angelo. The angel on the left holds the sponge soaked in vinegar used to give Jesus a drink and the angel on the right holds the spear used to pierce his side to make sure that he was dead.
During the Middle Ages, several aristocratic families disputed the ownership of Castel Sant’Angelo until it was transferred to the church in 1365. Since then, due to the security that the monument offered, it began to be used by the Vatican for various purposes. During various periods, it acted as a papal residence, the seat of the Holy See, a refuge for the popes in times of danger, a safe place for the Vatican Archives and Treasury and even a prison.
The history of Castel Sant’Angelo is riddled with various architectural changes that took place during the Middle Ages. By the time of the unification of Italy, it was being used as barracks. Castel Sant’Angelo has since been converted into a museum visited by hundreds of thousands of people every year. It is located at the center of Rome, an awe-inspiring monument towering over the river Tiber. Its beauty has inspired several artists to feature it in their works such as Giacomo Puccini’s Tosca and Dan Brown’s Angels and Demons.
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