Fountain of the Four Rivers - Piazza Navona

Pope Innocent X commissioned Bernini to create this fountain at Rome's Piazza Navona.  The artist (and his assistants) worked on the sculpture between 1648-51. 

The object of Bernini's fountain was to commemorate the impact of the Catholic Church on four continents.  (At the time, people believed there were only four continents in the world.)  The rivers signified by the fountain are: 

The Danube (representing Europe);

The Ganges (representing Asia);

The Nile (representing Africa); and

The Rio della Plata (representing the Americas).

Click on the image for a greatly expanded view.