The Vatican Museum

Regardless of any religious significance, the Vatican Museum is arguably the second greatest museum in the Western world, second only to the Louvre. Studying the Vatican museum for religious context, the Vatican museum reflects the popes' desire to show their wealth, power, and influence to the world. For example, the ceiling of one room in the museum has a depiction glorifying the then reigning pope, Pius VI, alongside Roman emperors. Another example is the hall of tapestries,  which depicts the life of Christ on the left side, and on the other side, a tapestry woven in the 17th Century depicting the life of Pope Urban VIII, designed to glorify his reign.


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