Tomb of Pope Julius II

The Tomb of Pope Julius II is a marble monument inside the Basilica of San Pietro in Vincoli in Rome, Italy, with a large sculpture of seated Moses as its centerpiece. On each side stand the figures of Rachel and Leah, and the entire composition rises against the wall in a single architectural structure of white Carrara marble.

Michelangelo began work on the tomb in 1505 at the request of the Pope, but interrupted it several times for other projects including the Sistine Chapel. The final version was completed only in 1545, four decades after the original commission and much smaller than the first design.

The central figure of Moses shows small horns on his head, arising from a medieval translation tradition of the Bible. This representation became the standard in Christian art for centuries and shaped the image of this biblical character across Europe.

The monument stands along the right wall of the main nave in the church, just a few steps from the entrance. Morning hours offer the best daylight to observe the fine details of the sculptures and the texture of the marble.

The original design called for a freestanding three-story monument with forty sculptures, to be placed in the old Saint Peter's Basilica. Financial difficulties and shifting papal priorities transformed the project into a more modest wall structure with only seven figures.