31ago/101
The Mouth of Truth – Rome Travel Tips
The Mouth of Truth (Italian Bocca della Verità) is a sculpture in marble which supposedly dating back to the first century AD.
One version says it was part of an ancient Roman Fountain, while the other holds that it is the portrait of Oceanus, a pagan god.
In the XVII century the Mouth of Truth was transferred to the portico of Santa Maria in Cosmedin, in Rome, where still stands today. Besides being famous for its appearance in the Italian cult movie “Roman Holiday”, the Mouth of Truth has captured the attention of many visitors over the years for a curious peculiarity.
In fact, according to an old tradition and as you can gather from its name, the Mouth of Truth is said to bite off the hand of the liers.