Candelabrum Pedestal
by MICHELANGELO Buonarroti, Marble
Two candelabra adorn the altar, one decorated with the pelican to symbolize sacrifice and the other with the phoenix to represent the resurrection of Christ. The arresting differences afforded by the various perspectives of the sculptures can be best experienced from the position of the priest, who stood behind the altar according to the old Christian tradition. (The candelabrum on the right was renewed in the eighteenth century.)