Room of Heliodorus
Frescoe by Raphael
500th Anniversary

The four Stanze di Raffaello ("Raphael Rooms") include the Sala di Costantino ("Hall of Constantine"), the Stanza di Eliodoro ("Room of Heliodorus"), the Stanza della Segnatura ("Room of the Segnatura") and the Stanza dell'Incendio del Borgo ("The Room of the Fire in the Borg"). Raphael Sanzio (1483-1520) and his studio began the frescoes for these rooms in 1508/09 and completed all but the Hall of Constantine by Raphael's death. Pope Julius II (1503-1513) commissioned Raphael's work which was continued by Pope Leo X (1513-1521). The €0,75 and €1,60 stamps include scenes from the Room of Heliodorus fresco, The Expulsion of Heliodorus from the Temple (shown above), based on II Maccabees 3:21-28. The Syrian King Seleucus IV Philapator (ruled 187-175 B.C.) ordered Heliodorus (the king's minister) to seize treasure in the Temple in Jerusalem. He was prevented through the prayers of the High Priest, Onias, when God sent a horseman and two angels to drive Heliodorus from the Temple. Heliodorus was struck by the horse's hooves and blows from the angels whereupon the text of II Maccabee states "he fell to the ground, enveloped in great darkness" and was carried away on a stretcher. Raphael painted the sixteenth century Pope Julius II into the scene at the top of the €0,75 stamp as he is carried above other figures in a chair to witness the second century B.C. scene, artistic license occasionally found in Renaissance art. Technical Details: Scott Catalogue - 1480 - 1481 Date Issued - 02 September 2011 Face Value - €0,75, €1,60 Perforations - 14.2x14.2 Printing Process - Offset Printer - Printex (Malta) Max Printed - 125,000

(Source - Vatican Notes: Volume: 59 Issue: 350 Page: 4-9 commons.wikimedia.org)