FRIDAY
ROMA
FRIDAY
ROMA
| The Arch of Titus. It was built to commemorate the victory over the province of Judea. |
 |
| This is a relief on the inside of the arch depicting Roman soldiers carrying off the spoils of war, including a menorah. |
 |
| The Santa Francesca Romana church. It was built in the 10th century, which compared to everything else in the Forum area is relatively recent. Of course it has been fixed up a few times since then. |
 |
| The old Temple of Romulus (not that Romulus, but Valerius Romulus, son of Emperor Maxentius). It was later joined with another building to become part of the Basilica of Santi Cosma e Damiano. |
 |
| Some old fresco inside. |
 |
| It's an old sign. I don't know what it says, but I can make out Caesar and Senatus. |
 |
| The Temple of Antoninus and Faustina. The columns seem to the the remnants of the temple whereas the building is a more recent church. |
 |
| This doesn't look much like a temple but it is the Temple of Julius Caesar. It is where ol' Julie's body was burned after his assassination. Et tu, Brute? |
 |
| These columns were the entrance to the Forum's oldest temple, the Temple of Saturn. It dates to 497 B.C.E. |
 |
| The Arch of Septimius Severus, commemorating the emperor's victories in Mesopotamia. I looked for the Arch of Severus Snape, but they don't have one. |
 |
| At the base of the columns are reliefs of soldiers marching back captured barbarians. |
 |
| The Atrium Vestae, or House of the Vestals, with the columns of the Temple of Castor and Pollux in the background. |
 |
| One of sixteen vestal virgins who were leaving for the coast. If you get that reference, you earn five points. |
 |
| Unless I am mistaken, which I certainly could be, these would be tabernae in the Forum. They would have been little retail shops. |
 |
| Enough of the Forum, let's head to the Colosseum. |
 |
| Modern stadia have signs indicating their named corporate sponsors. This was just the Amphitheatrum Flavium. I guess you could say it was sponsored by the emperors of the Flavian dynasty. |
 |
| One tip if you ever visit the Colosseum and also the Forum or Palatine Hill is to buy your combo ticket at one of the other sites. You will avoid the massive line at the ticket window like this. Seriously, these people had to be in the queue for at least 30-45 minutes. |
 |
| Horse's ass. |
 |
| The floor of the arena would have been at the level of the reconstructed platform on the far end. Below were the underground passages. Gladiators used to walk this central passageway from the warm-up area to the entrance. |
 |
| It's the best seat in the house, but you have to be nailed to a cross to get it. This may or may not have been where the emperor's box was located. |
 |
| Pretty steep ramps. I counted 47 steps up to the upper deck of the Colosseum. It is 76 steps to the upper deck of the Bridgestone Arena. |
 |
| And there are no railings. I wonder how many Romans fell down the stairs as they caught a sandal on a step. |
 |
| Something carved into marble. There were people filming these, so they must be of some importance. |
 |
| A head and another head and another head and another head and another head. |
 |
|
By the numbers. 1. Paving stone So, they did a little gambling and if you lost they would break your knuckles? |
 |
| The arena was covered with a wooden floor covered with sand. |
 |
| Some of the exterior. |
 |
| Down here would be where animals and prisoners were held. |
 |
| If you think about it, it was kind of a backstage area. |
 |
| Across the way are the ruins of the Temple of Venus and Rome, the largest temple in the ancient city. |
 |
| You think that in two thousand years people will be lining up for tickets to visit the ruins of LP Field? Nah, me neither. |
 |
| I took a picture of newlyweds in Japan (which I realize would not be unusual), in Paris and now in Rome. Actually I don't know that they are Japanese. I suppose they could be Korean. |
 |