Milton visited Rome on his youthful travels and must have seen this monumental masterpiece of baroque architecture, which suggests the kind of effect Milton wanted to evoke by his description of Pandemonium in Paradise Lost, Book I, for (like his father) he saw the unreformed Catholic Church as a diabolic power. Compare the picture above with Milton's description of Pandemonium: Anon out of the earth a Frabrick huge Rose like an Exhalation, with the sound Of Dulcet Symphonies and voices sweet, Built like a Temple, where Pilasters round Were set, and Doric pillars overlaid With Golden Architrave; nor did there want Cornice or Freeze, with bossy Sculptures grav'n, The Roof was fretted Gold. Not Babilon Nor great Alcairo such magnificence Equal'd in all thir glories, to inshrine Belus or Serapis thir Gods, or seat Thir Kings, when Aegypt with Assyria strove In wealth and luxurie. Th'ascending pile Stood fixt her stately highth, and strait the dores Op'ning thir brazen foulds discover wide Within, her ample spaces, o're the smooth And level pavement: from the arched roof Pendant by suttle Magic many a row Of Starry Lamps and blazing Cressets fed With Naptha and Alphaltus yeilded light As from a sky. (I.710-30) Image Subject: LocationsLocation: St. Peter's RomeRelated Work: Paradise Lost Log in to post comments