Saint Paul preaching at the Areopagus in Athens
This ninth and last tapestry shows Paul, the spiritual focus of the composition, in the foreground preaching at the Areopagus in Athens, which is characterised by the circular temple – a copy of Bramante’s Tempietto in San Pietro in Montorio – and the statue of Ares, god of war. The standing apostle addresses the Athenians: ‘I see how extremely religious you are in every way. For as I went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship, I found among them an altar with the inscription, “To an unknown god.” What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you’ (Acts 17: 22−34). The figure of Paul on the edge of the steps with his arms raised heavenwards stands out above all those present, not only because of his higher position but also because the rest of the onlookers have been rendered in a smaller scale.
Saint Paul’s speech failed to convince the philosophers, who could not accept the resurrection of the dead, but it did awaken a Christian vocation in some listeners, who embraced the truth of the new doctrine. Among them were Dionysius the Areopagite and his wife Damaris, who are depicted climbing the steps on the left.
This tapestry was designed as the culmination of the series and as a tribute from Raphael to his patrons, Pope Leo X and the humanist Janus Lascaris, who are among the philosophers attending Paul’s debate in the agora or main square of the capital of Attica.
Borders: The allegories of the theological virtues are depicted beneath each other in the mirror-symmetrical side borders: Faith with a chalice and cross; Hope in a greenish-blue tunic; Charity breastfeeding the infants in her arms; and Theology with the scriptures on a lectern. Sitting on a bench in a row in the lower border are the allegories of the Revelation or History with a phoenix; Philosophy with a ladder; Eloquence in the centre with flames issuing from her mouth; Constance or Sculpture with a Hermes; and Temperance beside a camel.
Texts: Concha Herrero Carretero