Some facts and history about the Bocca della Verita
The original Bocca della Verita in Roma
The Bocca della Verita (Mouth of Truth) is in front of the church of Santa Maria de Cosmedin, in Roma.
- Size: diameter is 175 cm (about 5ft 9in); thickness is 19 cm (about 7in)
- Weight: about 1200 Kg (about 2640 Lb)
- Age: about 1800 years
- What does it represent: we think the Bocca della Verità represents the God Oceanus (Οκεανοσ in Greek) and was probably the cover of a water collector inside a temple in the Foro Boario area.
Bocca della Verita details
Details of the sculpture from which it appears that the Bocca della Verità is a mask of the God Oceanus.
- F is a fish
- C (left and right) appear not to be horns but rather crab claws or head of dolphins;
- T could be dolphins or even the testicles of the God Uranus, thrown by Kronos into the Ocean; too worn to be easily recognizable
Oceanus in Bardo Museum
Fragment of a mosaic exhibited in Bardo museum in Tunis representing the God Oceanus.
It is clearly visible that the horn is a part of a crab or shrimp.
More details in the Mouth of Truth history page... (coming soon)
Church of Santa Maria de Cosmedin
The Bocca della Verita medaillon was put in front of the church of Santa Maria de Cosmedin,
in Piazza Bocca della Verità, Roma, by Mr.Placidi in 1632.
More details in the Mouth of Truth history page... (coming soon)
The real-size replica of the Bocca della Verita
Our real size replica of the Bocca della Verità is installed in the AELIA duty-free in Terminal E of Rome Fiumicino Airport
The Bocca della verita machine
The Mouth of truth manufactured by DPS-Promatic has been sold worldwide and translated in 28 languages since 1987