Rome, Italy

Last week, I visited Rome on a school trip organised by the Latin department. It was an incredible experience as I learnt a lot about not only the Latin language and Roman culture, but also I had the experience to learn and use some Italian.

Over the next few days I am going to write posts about the following:

·         Diary of days 1-4

·         Latin Language

·         Italian Language 

Day 1

Museo Nazionale Romano – This museum was built and opened in the 19^th century and includes antiques from between the 5^th century BC and the 3^rd century AD. On the ground floor is a collection of statues from the late Roman Republic, for example, the famous Via Labicana Augustus. This statue is significant because it demonstrated that Augustus was not only the head of the republic, but also closely related to the church. On the first floor is a collection of mosaics and wall paintings, including some from the villa of Livia (Augustus' wife). In my opinion, the most impressive of these was a vast painting of a garden, which extended on all four walls. The painting has been preserved incredibly well and it includes vivid trees and flying birds, showing their wealth.

Coliseum (Flavian Amphitheatre) - Construction began under the emperor Vespasian in 70AD and was finished within 10 years by Emperor Titus. There are 80 archways leading into the centre: many would have been used by the public to find their seats, a few by the gladiators and one larger arch dedicated to the emperor. The emperor also had his own seating with places for family members and close friends. The gladiators and nights would have been seated near the bottom, with the public sat above them. The common women would have been seated near to the top.

Actors, grave diggers and former gladiators were not allowed to go to the coliseum at all. Although generally speaking, slaves would have been banished from the coliseum, some slaves were present to operate the awning system. We can see where the awnings would have been secured in square holes in the stone at the top of the building and the awning would have covered the majority of the seating, making it much cooler.

The arena itself was 83 by 48m. Its name came from the Latin for sand (arena) as sand would have been applied to the floor often in order to soak up sweat and blood from the floor. Underneath the arena is the hypogeum, which consists of a maze of tunnels, used to store the animals. Many different events were held at the coliseum including gladiator shows, animal hunts and the arena was flooded for mock sea battles.

Roman Forum – the forum would have been a central part of Roman life as it was the venue for markets, public speeches and criminal trials. The forum is situated very close to the coliseum, between the Palatine and Capitoline hills. There are many fabulous remains in the forum, including the Arch of Septimius Severus.

The Arch of Septimius Severus is 23m high and has three arched passageways. The arch was built in 203AD to commemorate the emperor and his two sons, Caracalla and Geta. The central scene shows the concordia between them and other family members. However, after the death of Severus, his two sons became joint emperors, until Caracalla had his brother assassinated. After this he ensured that all mention of Geta was eradicated, including in the arch. This can be seen especially in the inscription, which only talks about Caracalla:

IMP (eratori) CAES(ari) LUCIO SEPTIMIO M(arci) FIL(io) SEVERO PIO PERTINACI AUG(usto) PATRI PATRIAE PARTHICO ARABICO ET / PARTHICO ADIABENICO PONTIFIC(i) MAXIMO TRIBUNIC(ia) POTEST(ate) XI IMP(eratori) XI CO(n)S(uli) III PROCO(n)S(uli) ET / IMP(eratori) CAES(ari) M(arco) AURELIO L(ucii) FIL(io) ANTONINO AUG(usto) PIO FELICI TRIBUNIC(ia) POTEST(ate) VI CO(n)S(uli) PROCO(n)S(uli) [P(atri) P(atriae) / OPTIMIS FORTISSIMISQUE PRINCIPIBUS / OB REM PUBLICAM RESTITUTAM IMPERIUMQUE POPULI ROMANI PROPAGATUM / INSIGNIBUS VIRTUTIBUS EORUM DOMI FORISQUE S(enatus) P(opulus)Q(ue) R(omanus)

To the Imperator Caesar Lucius Septimius, son of Marcus, Severus Pius Pertinax Augustus, father of his country, conqueror of the Parthians in Arabia and Assyria, Pontifex Maximus, with Tribunician powers 11 times, triumphing general 11 times, consul 3 times, and proconsul; and to the Imperator Caesar Marcus Aurelius, son of Lucius, Antoninus Augustus Pius Felix [=Caracalla], with tribunician powers 6 times, consul, proconsul, father of his country—**the best and bravest of princes**—on account of the republic restored and the empire of the Roman people increased by their outstanding virtues at home and abroad, the Senate and the Roman people dedicate this arch.

** This phrase was substituted for one that probably read:  ET P(ublio) SEPTIMIO L(ucii) F(ilio) GETAE NOB(ilissimo) CAES(ari). The translation reads: “and to Publius Septimius, son of Lucius, Geta, most noble Caesar"

Text and transcription sourced from: http://archive1.village.virginia.edu/spw4s/RomanForum/GoogleEarth/AK_GE/AK_HTML/MA-020.html