Page 6 - monument

BOCCA DELLA VERITA, SANTA MARIA IN COSMEDIN
The church, born in 700 AD, has been considerably modified over the centuries until it reached its "baroque" ap- pearance in the photo below. In 1896 it was restored to its original Romanesque style architecture (photo above). The only difference from today is the opening of the bell tower arches up to the third floor and the removal of the clock.
We often talked about its interior at the beginning of these history notes: Its crypt was entirely excavated within the maximum area of Hercules that precedes the foundation of Rome. And, according to the legends, inside the columns of a Phoenician warehouse erected in this place are visible.
In its short hall, on the left side, a large mask called Bocca della Verità has been placed since 1623.
It is actually a manhole cover from ancient Rome. At the time, these often reported the effigy of a river divinity who "swallows" rainwater.
It was known since the Middle Ages and there are many legends that have made it a real protagonist.
It is said that an unfaithful woman was forced by her husband to undergo the test of inserting her hand by subjec- ting herself in public to the judgment of the mask to declare her loyalty. She, with a stratagem, mocked him! In fact, the lover, pretending to be crazy, ran to hug her and she dismissed him with contempt and declared: I swear I've never hugged another man ... apart from that madman who did it before! And she was saved.
In recent times, the visit of famous people and the film "Roman holidays" with Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck have made her famous all over the world. In fact, every day hundreds of people queue up to immortalize them- selves with their hand in their mouth!