The Digital Ark: Early Modern Collections of Curiosities in England and Scotland, 1580-1700

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Ludovico Ludovisi, Cardinal (22 or 27 Oct 1595 - 18 Nov 1632)

Other biography: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludovico_Ludovisi References in Documents:
Bargrave's catalogue: Rara, Antiqua, et Numismata Bargraviana (Canterbury Cathedral Lit MS E 16a)

Another of these vast stones layeth all along full of hyerogliphics, in that which is now Prince Ludovicio's, formerly Sallust's garden.[*]This is now erected in front of the church of Sta. Trinita de’ Monti. And, to see how Rome layeth under its own ashes, one walketh in the streets over one of these famous Egyptian obelisks every day, in a little by passage of a narrow descent that is between Antonina's famous piller and the Rotunda. I could go directly to it if I were there, but I have forgotten the name of the place. There one day an antiquarian had me down a poor man’s cellar, and there showed me 4 or five yards of one of these pyramids.[*] This now stands on the Monte Citorio. How far it runneth under ground they know not. It was full of hieroglyphics, and it pittied me to see how the stone was cut and mangled for the convenience to set wine vessels on it. The poor man getteth his rent by showing of it to strangers that are curious -- as I confess I always was, and would wish every gentleman traveller to be so.