ALCUNE NOTE SULLE DECORAZIONI GEROGLIFICHE DELL'ODEO CORNARO A PADOVA

The paper investigates the cryptic meanings of the decorations in the Odeo Cornaro, inquiring specifically into the stucco reliefs representing the Sun and the Moon, located on the facade of the building, and some grotesques, painted in the ceiling in the central room. These decorations should be considered as truly Renaissance hieroglyphics which can be decipher thanks to the volume Hieroglyphica (Basel 1556) by Pierio Valeriano who was a friend of Alvise Cornaro, patron of the Odeo. Valeriano wrote his 'sacred letters' using numerous passages from ancient texts, in particular Macrobius and Horapollo. It is possible that the creators of the iconographic programs were Valeriano himself, an expert in the field, and Cornaro, since the meanings of the decorations dealing with time, nourishment, and natural fertility are intimately connected to Cornaro's personality.