Vatican Museums
The origins of the Vatican Museums may be traced back to a single marble sculpture that was acquired in the 16th century: Laocoön and His Sons. It was found on January 14, 1506, in a vineyard close to the Santa Maria Maggiore basilica in Rome. Giuliano da Sangallo and Michelangelo, who were employed by the Vatican, were dispatched by Pope Julius II to investigate the find.The Pope promptly bought the sculpture from the vineyard owner based on their suggestion. Exactly one month after its discovery, the Pope displayed the sculpture at the Vatican for public viewing. It depicts the Trojan priest Laocoön and his two sons, Antiphantes and Thymbraeus, being attacked by enormous serpents.The Lateran Museum was established by Pius by decree in 1854, incorporating some of the Vatican collections, while Benedict constructed the Museum Christianum.
October 2006 saw the permanent public opening of a Vatican Hill necropolis' excavations as part of the museums' 500th anniversary celebrations.
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