If the interjection “wow” could be transformed into a physical entity, that entity would be us as we stood in the center of ancient Rome: the Forum. In a region where ancient civilization is constantly dug up to this day, this Roman center, filled with areas of worship, marketplaces, gardens and monuments, is clearly the heart of the ancients; the bustling metropolis of its time. Our professor Brandy Stark commemorated Julius Caesar by placing roses on his grave. The churches and arcs in the region were not quite my personal cup of tea, but the Gardens of the Vestal Virgins was simply beautiful. Two big pools filled the center, seagulls swooping down for a quick bath. All around them in a rectangle and on pedestals were the Virgins themselves, elegantly draped in what seems to flow like finely-woven silk – marble! I also saw a lot of things that were in my Art History textbook last semester, it was so cool to see them in person!
On our way out I bought an excellent piece of artwork, as pictured. I was lucky to find something so rare, as many Roman paintings being sold were actually copies of each other. The Roman streets are a lot different than those back in America. Every corner there’s people selling to tourists, a shopping center, or an ancient church. The drivers here are fast and exciting! The streets are narrow and the roads hilly, a struggle even for a person, let alone a car. It’s a good thing here that European drivers are a lot more skilled than what we have back home.
After this we visited the Colosseum. I already knew about its place as a center for entertainment, particularly watching gladiators fight animals and each other, sometimes to their death, but I had no idea how high-tech it really was. Over what is now ruins of the underground used to be a wooden platform, and from below and at all angles cages were hoisted up in old elevators (a man-operated pulley system) leading gladiators and beasts to begin the show. This added suspense to the shows, never knowing what will come out where. They also performed reenactments of previous battles and events, much like a theatrical play. Seating in the Colosseum was separated by class. The noblest men sat closest near the bottom, while women, slaves, and homeless sat on the top. This is slightly ironic, as today it costs extra to go to the top, while regular customers are situated closer and lower near the center.
The gladiators, while highly regarded, were lower on the social scale than Roman citizens. They were essentially slaves who had to do what they were told, sometimes even serving as items for people to “take home” if one spent enough money. The gladiators were both men and women, which is different considering what little place a woman had in Roman society. The attitude regarding homosexuality in Rome also fascinates me. Homosexuality was fine as long as it isn’t “feminine.” Romans with slaves could get away with any act, as they were simply “using their property.”
The pictures bellow were where we ate for dinner. It was a feast, we struggled to make room on our table!
We took the bus back to the hotel. We were pretty much squashed, like bricks between bricks coming together to form a wall, it was so crowded. Looking at tour buses after this experience makes me feel proud: we are living in Rome as Romans!