The building of Christian Church over pagan temples was customary in ancient Rome. Thus we have the Basilica Santa María over the Temple of Minerva. In fact, recently discovered were the remains of another temple, to Isis and Serapis in the place where this basilica is located. The architectural style of the “Basilica Santa Maria sopra Minerva” is Gothic.
The “Pulcino della Minerva”, Bernini’s work, consists of an elephant, on which one of a series of Egyptian obelisks from Sais was mounted. Originally, it was destined for the temple of Isis in Rome.