The Mouth of Truth in Rome — the marble mask by the church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin
Italy
Rome
1 excursion

The Mouth of Truth

The Mouth of Truth is a marble disc with the face of a bearded god, set into the portico wall of the church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin. It is nearly a metre and a half across and weighs about a tonne and a half.

The legend says that if you put your hand in the open mouth and tell a lie, it will bite the hand off. In truth the disc was most likely an ancient drain cover: the openings of the mouth and eyes let rainwater through. The legend is about a thousand years younger than the stone — it was invented in the Middle Ages.

Tours and quests here

Found 1 excursion
“Jumanji” — a quest tour
Rome
“Jumanji” — a quest tour
This is not an ordinary tour but a real adventure, with the ancient city as the playing board. You have stumbled on a mysterious game called Jumanji, and now it leads you along Rome's secret paths.
3 hours
250€
Group of up to 5
Details

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