Imperial Rome

Trevi Fountain is an example of Baroque Art showing that water is the soul of the world. It is the terminal point of the spring's course that hydraulic engineering carried the water to from a spring eight miles away. This amazing engineering was created in 19 AD. Not 1901...19. Wow. Those Romans... Some legends say that Diana led the troops to the spring, which has fresh water, free of limestone and perfect for the fountain. Pope Urban VIII wanted a fountain and hired Berninni to build it. It was expensive however, so they taxed the wine to raise the funds. The people rebelled. Money was exhausted and the project got put on hold. Three centuries later, Pope Clement XII hired Nicola Salvi and Papanni, who finished the project in 1762. The Fountain has Neptune, god of the sea, coming out of the water above the rocks in a chariot pulled by sea horses and tridents. The two horses represent the states of the sea- calm and restless. The two statues on either side of him represent health and abundance.

Above it shows two scenes. On the left, Grippa (higher up in military) is approving the project. On the right, the maiden (Diana?) is showing the soldiers the source of the spring. Along the top the four statues represent the four seasons.

Legend has it if you wish to return to the eternal city, throw a coin over your shoulder into the fountain. Once a decade of so, they clean the pipes leading to the spring. They still find ancient coins down there! I threw a coin over my shoulder in 2004 when I went to Rome and here I am back again! JC refused to participate in such superstitious nonsense. Guess I'll come back without him!

Missing Colleen! Here we sat five years ago and were hit on by those two old men!

Piazza Novana

The great Pantheon- said by Michelangelo to have been "built by angels". It was built where Romulous (founder of Rome) supposedly was seized by an eagle upon death and taken to the sky to live among the gods. Its name Pan=everything and theon=divine. It was dedicated to all the Roman gods. Built in 24 b.c. it was damaged by fire 80 years later, rebuilt, then struck by lightening and built again in 120 A.D. It combines the Roman dome and Greek columns.

The Pantheon was a cultural revolution. It was the first temple built for the common people. Previously it was forbidden for anyone except the vestals and priests to enter. Interestingly enough this is true for the Jewish and Christian faiths, too, around this time. Only the Levite priest could enter the Holy of Holies until Christ's death, whereby the temple veil was torn and we had the eternal mediator, Jesus Christ.

Inside you feel small and almost dizzy- as one might in front of God. It is a perfect sphere. Picture a basketball inside a trashcan where the bottom of the ball just barely touches the bottom of the trashcan. Height equals diameter, perfect balance and harmony. It is round so all the gods are on one level of importance. In the seventh century, it was turned into a Church dedicated to Mary and the martyrs.

The famous Roman Coliseum: Emperor Titus opened the stadium in 80 AD. The opening ceremony lasted a hundred days and some five thousand animals were killed. The floor was filled with water to simulate great battles of the past.

The Coliseum is elliptic to hold more people, earthquake proof, and was covered with marble. It has four floors- the second and third of which have eighty arches for statues. It was built in just ten years using arches, which the Romans had perfected. Now 3/5 of the outer wall are missing, for the marble, iron, and lead pins were stolen for other monuments and buildings.

Inside 70-90 thousand people could gather for a great view. Admission was free but the seating was according to social status. Here was a link between the leaders and common people as they had shared participation at important events.

Inside the floor has cellars which held equipment and trap doors for animals, gladiators, and backdrops to be lifted up and suddenly appear. In the morning were fights between animals or men and animals. Sometimes public executions happened here, though no Christians were killed in this Coliseum. Around noon they would remove the bodies, put fresh sand on the floors and the crowd would go crazy. Now it was time for the gladiators.

Gladiators were slaves, prisoners or war or paupers looking for a chance at fame. They would come in, walk the perimeter, raise their swords to the emperor and chant, "Hail Caesar! Those who are about to die salute you." If wounded, they could raise an arm to ask for mercy. The crowd would yell their opinion and the emperor would decide. Thumbs up saved him. Thumbs down... To add to the disgusting violence, people thought gladiators blood was valuable and held healing powers for epilepsy and gave sexual power.

Look under that arch and you can see the cross. Benedict 14th dedicated the Coliseum to the Passion of the Christ and put the cross on the pedestal as a symbol of the suffering to all Christian martyrs. This is the beginning point of the stations of the cross on Good Friday.

The Arch of Constantine

The Roman Forem and principle meeting place for citizens to discuss politics, trade, or play games. The gladiator games were held in the forem before the coliseum was built.

The central hall of Trajan's Markets was the headquarters of the management of the Forum of Trajan- who ruled around 110 AD.

The Arch of Triumph- one of the greatest symbols of the empire. It was created in honor of military victories. Following victories, troops would enter with armed escorts including the heads of state, musicians, chained prisoners, bearers carrying the spoils of war and soldiers. They would walk along Via Sacre to the Temple of Jupitor to offer a sacrifice of praise.

The Curia or Senate House~