The awards of each edition of UNIVtube are replicas of the famous Pigna Bronzea, located in Cortile della Pigna (The Courtyard of Pine-cone), at the Vatican Museums.
Besides a Pigna for the Best Documentary, in the contest will be delivered Pigna to the best documentaries based on the following criteria:
- TECHNICAL QUALITY (writing, audio, video and installation).
- CREATIVITY (approach and use of original images …).
- DOCUMENTARY RESEARCH (use of documents and historical data).
- EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL CONTENT (depth of message and its proper communication).
The group that wins the Best Documentary Pigna may opt for a second Pigna of between 5 above. Never a group may win more than 2 Pigna.
Besides the Pigna, the winners will receive financial compensation:
- Best Documentary Pigna: 1000 €
- Technical Quality Pigna: 500 €
- Creativity Pigna: 500 €
- Documentary Research Pigna: 500 €
- Educational and Cultural content Pigna: 500 €
The finalists that don’t win a Pigna will receive a special mention.
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THE PIGNA BRONZEA
The colossal 4 meters high bronze pine-cone, located in front of the exedra in the north part of the court (“cortile”), probably came from Agripa´s thermae or other place in Campo Marzio. It is also possible that it was originally incrusted near the Pantheon, giving the name to the popular roman neighborhood “il Rione Pigna”. The sculptor is said to be Publio Cincio Salvio. The pine-cone originally decorated a fountain.
During the Middle Age, the Bronze Pine-cone was placed in the center of the atrium that existed before Constantine´s Basilica of St. Peter. There was probably seen by Dante, because there is a reference to it at the Divine Comedy, in the verses 58-59 of the Canto XXXI of the Inferno. «La faccia sua mi parea lunga e grossa / come la pina di San Pietro a Roma» (Su cara parecía larga y grande / como la Piña de San Pedro en Roma), quote about the giant Nemrod, mythical king of Babylon. In 1608 it was replaced to the current location.
The bronze pine-cone is settled on a 3rd century capital, placed there as a ground. Its embossed patterns represent the coronation of a winner athlete. It is also flanked by a group of bronze peacocks that probably came from the Mausoleum of Hadrian (known as Castel Sant’Angelo). The original relief, dated back to the 2nd century, is displayed in the section called Braccio Nuovo of the Vatican Museums.
