Hadrian Mausoleum

Hadrian Mausoleum Exterior

Hadrian Mausoleum also known as Castel Sant'Angelo was built in Rome, Italy by the Roman Emperor at the time, Hadrian. In 138 AD Emperor Hadrian pass away and the build was finished by his adopted son Antoninus Pius who eventually also became the next Emperor in line, in 139AD. The reason for the change in name is based on an old legend where it depicts the Archangel Michael being seen on top of the Mausoleum in the year 590. Him being there was a sign to show that the plague (the Justinian plague) that was upon Rome at the time was over. Today the statue is place on top of the Mausoleum and that statue is made out of bronze while the original statue was made out of marble and was placed in the courtyard inside the Mausoleum. 

Statue Of Archangel Michael

The Hadrian Mausoleum served as a fortress, refuge, mausoleums, and a prison. Over time the Mausoleum was used also for the Pope protection in a time of crisis, each Pope who was in charge improved the structure and decorated the exterior. It was Pope Nicholas III who came up with the idea of creating a secret underground tunnel from The Vatican to the Mausoleum. The building also houses many paintings and pottery from the Renaissance as well as antique military weapons. It also became a museum that served as a way to document the history of Rome and the church. 

Starting for the bridge it was strategically built to connect to the center of Rome and also it was close to the Vatican. The bridge had twelve statues, as you walk towards the Mausoleum, ten of them being angels. One angel holds the cross in which Christ carried. Another is holding the column that Christ was tied to. The third angel holds the nail that was put in Christ. Fourth Angel holds the sponge that was on a stick that was used on Christ. The Fifth angel holds the spear that was use on Christ. Sixth hold the crown made of thorns. Another holds the wipe. Another looks at Christ with pity and the final angel holds the garments of Christ. The other two statues is St. Peter holding the Keys to Heaven and St. Paul holding a broken sword. All of these statues were placed around the Middle age and were design by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. A huge low wall encloses the building, but before there were marble columns in the exterior that was later tore down by many invasions that happen to the Mausoleum. Because of this reason the Mausoleum was transformed to a fortress; just like the city of Rome changed so did the building. The main entrance has a dedicatory inscription with other inscriptions being disposed on each side of the door.

Hadrian Mausoleum Section

To get to the top of the Mausoleum you walk up a spiral like corridor in how I like to describe like Frank Lloyd Wright Guggenheim except your not doing six revolutions, but just one. The Hadrian Mausoleum is to be said to have a beautiful view of Rome when you get to the top.

[1]http://www.rome.info/vatican/castel-sant-angelo/

[2]http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Places/Europe/Italy/Lazio/Roma/Rome/_Texts/PLATOP*/Mausoleum_Hadriani.html

[3]Spagnesi, Piero. Castel Sant'Angelo: La Fortezza Di Roma: Momenti Della Vicenda Architettonica Da Alessandro VI a Vittorio Emanuele III (1494-1911). Roma: Fratelli Palombi, 1995. Print.