Expulsion of Heliodorus from the Temple by Raphael

A dynamic scene unfolds within a grand, vaulted temple interior where a celestial rider and two youths with whips drive Heliodorus to the ground. To the left, Pope Julius II is carried in a ceremonial litter, appearing as a witness to the divine intervention, while in the background, the High Priest Onias prays before a sanctuary altar. The composition is characterized by deep architectural perspective and a dramatic contrast between the chaotic expulsion on the right and the solemn papal procession on the left.

This work serves as a political and theological allegory for the preservation of the Church's sanctity and property, reflecting the intellectual program of the Vatican under Pope Julius II. Its iconography is heavily influenced by the Neoplatonist and Hebraist scholar Egidio da Viterbo, who sought to harmonize classical philosophy with sacred history.