The Mouth of Truth

The Mouth of Truth or La Bocca della Verita, located in the Church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin, is a remarkable marble mask and a popular attraction for many tourists. Thought to be part of an ancient fountain, the cracked statues represents an image of the river god and is well-known for its legend. According to popular belief, any liar that put its hand inside the mouth of the statue can not withdraw it, the statue eating the mouth of the liar.

The Church of Santa Maria was built in the 6th century, over the remains of some Roman establishments. Dedicated to the Virgin Mary, the Church was looked after by Greek monks and is well known for its bell tower. In older times, to keep the superstition alive, a priest would stick a scorpion in the crack to sting the hands of fibbers.

The Mouth of Truth was featured in the film “Roman Holiday”. Gregory Peck, one of the main actors, stuck is hand in the crack and, when pulling it out, jokingly hid his hand in his sleeve, shocking Audrey Hepburn. The cast appreciated the scene so much that they featured it in the movie.