Michelangelo (1475-1564) had been in Rome twice, (1505-06) to start work on the Tomb of Pope Julius II; on that visit he had witnessed the discovery of the ancient Laocoon Group.

Laocoon was a prophet who told the Trojans not to accept the large wooden horse left by the Athenians during the Trojan war. Laocoon knew the horse was full of Athenian soldiers. Athena, who was on Athens' side, sent sea serpents to kill Laocoon and his sons. The Trojans took the wooden horse into their gates, and the rest is history.