About 500
BC, built for Apries, Pharaoh mentioned in the Bible as Ofra (Jer. 44.30)
5.47 m
(17.9 feet) High, 12.96 m (42.5 feet) with the base
It was
found in 1665 in the area of the Iseum Campensis (Temple
of Isis) to the decoration of which it probably belonged
Elephant
sculpted in 1667 by Ercole Ferrata (1610/86) on
a design and idea by Gian Lorenzo Bernini
(1598/1680) inspired by Alexander VII Chigi (1755/67)
It is
commonly called “Pulcin della Minerva” (chick of Minerva) for a refined
corruption of the original nickname: in the eighteenth century it was called “Porcin
della Minerva” (pig of Minerva) for its vague resemblance to a hog and for the
Romans' unfamiliarity with elephants at the time
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