In the Piazza directly in front of Sta. Maria Sopra Minerva, Gianlorenzo Bernini created this clever sculpture of an elephant bearing an Egyptian obelisk on its back.
The sculpture was commissioned by Pope Alexander VII Chigi, as a "concetto" or "conceit" for the Pope, to represent his wisdom.
The obelisk symbolizes a ray of the sun in Egyptian mythology. An inscription on the base of the sculpture indicates
that the elephant is wise to bring this gift of "divine light" (represented by the obelisk) to the Chigi Pope.

In the background can be seen a rear view of the Pantheon.