The talking statues of Rome consists of 6 statues that are used as an anonymous form of political expression. Criticisms in the form of poems would be left at these popular statues to serve as bulletin board dating back to the 16th century and it is still done today. The statues are Pasquino, Marforio, Madama Lucrezia, Abbot Luigi, II Babuino, and II Facchino. The first talking statue was that of Pasquino. In 1501, the damaged statue was found during construction and placed in the town square. Shortly after, poems criticizing religous and political figures began to show up around Pasquino. Legend has it that the statue was named after a local resident who worked his way into the Vatican and then began to spread gossip and the secrets of the Vatican. Some people say the poems came from just students making fun of their teachers but the origin is not known for sure. Political leaders began sending guards to watch Pasquino to prevent these “witticisms” from being posted which ultimately led to the creation of the 6 talking statues of Rome.
