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Elefantino
This 6th century BC Egyptian obelisk carried on the back of a white marble elephant was sculpted by Ercole Ferrata in 1667 to Bernini's design. The obelisk, found in a church cloister, was erected here by Pope Alexander VII. The elephant, representing strength and wisdom, symbolises those virtues that sustained Christian faith.
The rear view of the Pantheon can be seen in the background.
While Mark Anthony became smitten with Cleopatra, Romans in general fell for things Egyptian, most evidently obelisks, which they 'commandeered' and copied for centuries. Many fell into ruin after the Empire collapsed, but were rediscovered from the 16th century on and converted from Pagan to Christian monuments. Thirteen obelisks puncture the Roman skyline today (another one can be seen in the Piazza della Rotunda) and most have histories reaching further back than we can ever fathom.
