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The Vatican Museums are a group of museums located within Vatican City, which is the smallest country in the world. The museums are famous for their extensive collection of art and historical artifacts, including works by some of the most renowned artists in history.

Some of the most notable attractions in the Vatican Museums include the Sistine Chapel, which is renowned for its ceiling painted by Michelangelo; the Raphael Rooms, which feature works by Raphael and his students; and the Gallery of Maps, which contains a series of intricately detailed maps of Italy painted on the walls.

Other highlights of the Vatican Museums include the Pio Clementino Museum, which houses classical sculptures and ancient Roman artifacts; the Gregorian Egyptian Museum, which features a collection of Egyptian art and artifacts; and the Borgia Apartment, which contains works of art commissioned by Pope Alexander VI.

Vatican Museum: Laocoön and his sons

Among the most notable Roman Statues in the museum are:

  1. The Laocoön and His Sons: This is a famous sculpture group from ancient Rome that depicts the Trojan priest Laocoön and his two sons being attacked by sea serpents. It is considered one of the greatest masterpieces of Hellenistic sculpture.
  2. The Apollo Belvedere: This is a marble statue of the Greek god Apollo that was created in the 2nd century AD. It was discovered in the late 15th century in the courtyard of the Belvedere palace in Rome and became one of the most celebrated works of ancient art.
  3. The Augustus of Prima Porta: This is a marble statue of the first Roman emperor Augustus, dating to the early 1st century AD. It was discovered in 1863 in the ruins of the villa of Livia, Augustus’s wife, near Rome. The statue depicts Augustus as a military leader and embodies the ideals of Roman power and virtue.
  4. The Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus statue: This is a bronze statue of the Roman emperor Nero that was discovered in the 16th century in the ruins of Nero’s Golden House in Rome. The statue depicts Nero as a charioteer and is considered one of the finest examples of Roman bronze sculpture.
  5. The Roman sarcophagi: The Vatican Museums also have a number of Roman sarcophagi, which were used to hold the remains of the deceased. These sarcophagi are decorated with elaborate reliefs depicting scenes from mythology, history, and daily life in ancient Rome.

These are just a few examples of the many Roman artifacts that can be found in the Vatican Museums. The collection also includes mosaics, frescoes, and other works of art from ancient Rome.