The terrestrial and celestial Gods

The terrestrial and celestial Gods in Palazzo Vecchio.
 

A whole quartier at the first floor in Palazzo Vecchio is dedicated to the "Terrestrial Gods", the members of the Medici family who, during the centuries, succeded at the government of the city: Cosimo the Elder, Lorenzo il Magnifico, Leo X, Cosimo I.
Every terrestrial god matches the Medici deity decorated at the second floor partially dedicated to the "Celestial Gods".
The wonderful decorations on the ceilings were commissioned by Cosimo I to Giorgio Vasari and his equipe in 1550s when the duke imposed his government establishing in the city-hall of Florence with his family.
The cycle starts with Leo X: the Pope represents the genesis of the Medici family's political fortune for the foundation of the Duchy of Tuscany: in fact the Four Elements at the second floor symbolize the origin of Cosmos: Earth, Water, FIre and Air.
Cosimo the Elder corresponds to Ceres: as Ceres provided for the well-being of the first men thanks to the bounty of the land, Cosimo the Elder spared no effort to endow Florence with great abundance and wealth.
At the end of this wonderful and interesting itinerary a beautiful landscape of Florence waits you!
 

The exile of Cosimo the Elder in 1433

 

His return, one year later
Altri articoli
The funeral mask
The funeral mask

The Dante funeral mask, once thought real, is now believed a lost sculptural portrait. Donated to Florence in 1911, found in Ravenna in 1830.

The Marzocco, the symbol
The Marzocco, the symbol

A cage full of lions was situated behind Piazza Signoria in the actual Via dei Leoni in the middle of XIV century to protect priors.

The stone of the outrage
The stone of the outrage

From 1282 priors were representatives of the seven Major guilds: they fighted against the old aristocratic families revenging an active role of trade in Florence.

The Magnificent, why?
The Magnificent, why?

Lorenzo de' Medici, although not having attained such a position, was called so for his role as a guide and influence on the city.