Roma No. 15 / Vaticano

A Roman capital of the Doric order, hollowed out for use as baptismal font; probably from the Antonini period. Legend (?) has it that this is the font in which St. Peter baptised St. Priscilla [aka Prisca], however it is more likely that this transformation occurred at a much later date than the legend claims. [source: www.romamercato.it]. Also noted in the 'Fiori d'Arancio' website [http://www.fioridaranciotv.it/pages_rubriche/consigli_chiesediroma.htm] [accessed 12 July 2007]: "Come fonte battesimale nell'attuale battistero viene usato un capitello romano che, secondo la tradizione sarebbe servito a S. Pietro per battezzare Aquila e S. Prisca". [see also Index entry for Rome no. 8, the baptistery found in the Cemetery of Priscilla, also in Rome]