Research Article

THE ‘MINERVA MEDICA’ AND THE SCHOLA MEDICORUM: PIRRO LIGORIO AND ROMAN TOPONYMY*

Ian Campbell ^c1

Abstract

The article explores how, when and why Pirro Ligorio (c. 1513–83) chose to link a sanctuary dedicated to Minerva Medica, listed in the fourth-century ad Regionary Catalogues of the monuments of Rome as being on the Esquiline, with the late antique decagonal pavilion, near Termini, which had the second largest dome in Rome after the Pantheon. It establishes that the catalyst was the unearthing of several statues, including one of Minerva, in 1552. The fate of these finds is examined, as well as Ligorio's attempt to locate the mysterious Schola Medicorum on the same site.

Abstract

Con l'articolo si indaga come, quando e perché Pirro Ligorio (ca. 1513–83) scelse di legare un santuario dedicato a Minerva Medica, citato nei Cataloghi Regionari del IV secolo d.C., che elencavano i monumenti di Roma come situati sull'Esquilino, con il padiglione tardo-antico decagonale situato vicino la stazione Termini, che aveva la seconda più grande cupola a Roma dopo il Pantheon. Il saggio stabilisce che il catalizzatore fu la scoperta di molte statue, inclusa quella di Minerva, nel 1552. Viene esaminato il destino di questi ritrovamenti e ugualmente il tentativo di Ligorio di individuare la misteriosa Schola Medicorum sullo stesso sito.

Correspondence:

^c1 Address for correspondence: Professor Ian Campbell, Bibliotheca Hertziana, Via Gregoriana 28, 00187 Rome, Italy/Edinburgh School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, Edinburgh College of Art, The University of Edinburgh, Lauriston Place, Edinburgh, EH3 9DF, Great Britain. campbell@biblhertz.it; i.campbell-1@ed.ac.uk

Footnotes

* This is an expanded version of the W.T.C. Walker Lecture given at the British School at Rome in November 2009. I gratefully acknowledge the help of Marco Carassi, Silvia Orlandi, Domenico Palombi, Emanuele Papi, Federico Rausa and Giandomenico Spinola in the preparation of this paper.