December 12, 2014: Horses in Rome Advent Calendar

There is an equestrian monument and obelisk in front of the Quirinal Palace, built between the 16th and 18th centuries as the Pope's residence. After 1870 it was occupied by the Kings of Italy and it is now the official residence of the President of the Republic of Italy.

According to tradition, these statues (Roman copies of 5th-century BC Greek originals) represent the "Horse Tamers," the twins Castor and Pollux, Greek heroes the ancient Romans worshipped as protectors of Rome. (Recent interpretations from medieval documents suggest that they are two versions of a single subject: Alexander the Great taming his horse Bucephalus.)