Day 28: Vatican Museum and St. Peter's Basilica

Today was another day on our own, so I headed out early and visited the Vatican Museum and St. Peter’s Basilica. The Vatican Museum features some of the best art from the Renaissance: Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel and Raphael’s School of Athens.


Here are some of the highlights:

Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel ceiling has recently been restored to its original beauty. Because flash photography will damage the work, no pictures are allowed in this room, the Pope’s personal chapel. This is also the room where upon the death of a ruling pope, the new pope is elected. Check out this Sistine Chapel image from an online source:

retrieved from http://www.kenrickparish.com/catholicdistance/summer07/sistine%20chapel.jpg

I really like how the image of God is reaching and stretching to try and touch Adam. It really shows the grace of God and the intensity of his care for humanity. Of course, Adam looks beautiful, but somewhat lackadaisical. Typical human. . .

Also, I saw (and was able to photograph, without a flash) Raphael’s School of Athens. Raphael, unlike Michelangelo, was actually excited to paint and weave for the pope. Here, Raphael’s most famous piece, depicts a tribute to many pre-Christian thinkers: Plato, Aristotle (both in the center of the painting), Socrates (in the green to the left), Pythagoras (foreground left with book), Euclid (foreground right, teaching geometry). Raphael even included himself in the painting. See the guy on the far right with the black beret? A self-portrait of the artist himself!

The Vatican also houses some more contemporary views of Christ and the church. I particularly was drawn to this painting by artist Gerardo Dottori. Entitled Crocifissione, the colors and sharp lines in the painting really capture some of the harshness of the crucifixion. This painting was completed in 1927.

I also climbed to the top of the St. Peter’s Basilica dome and viewed the city. While up on the roof, a light rain began to fall. It was very lovely standing in the drizzle and reflecting on all God has done, both through his church and for me personally. Often, his presence in my life has been like a gentle rain accompanied by a soft wind. For some on the roof, the rain was unwelcome, but for me, on a hot day in Italy or during the heat of certain life situations, a gentle reminder of God’s presence and concern is as refreshing as a shower on the top of St. Peter’s basilica.

One week left in Rome. What an experience it has been!

Day 27: Picnic Indoors

Today, we stayed inside for most of the day a listened to lectures and discussions about Ancient Rome. The air-conditioned room was a nice change. After the morning lectures, I ate a little lunch in my room. Check out my picnic:

Then, I travelled around Rome on my own, exploring a variety of churches and people watching. I also found a little shoe store and purchased my first pair of Italian leather boots! I topped it all off with a limon gelato! Ahh, Roma!

Overall, relaxing day!

Day 26: Livia’s garden and St. Peter’s grave

The National Museum of Rome at palazzo Massimo has the greatest collection of ancient Roman art in the world. Three things that were really cool to see were the hairstyles of some ancient Roman women (preserved for our judgment via statue), an elegant aesthetic mosaic, and Augustus’ wife, Livia’s garden frescos.

Ladies of the Roman world have always been fashion-conscious. Here, in some busts created around 2000 years ago, the upper class women display their beautiful tresses. It is said that once a bust or statue of a famous or regal woman would be displayed, everyone in the country had to run out and get a new hairstyle. Check out the following ‘dos:

Sappho, a famous Ancient Greek poetess, who lived around the 5th and 6th century B.C.

This bust would have been retouched during the 16th or 18th century.

Octaviana, Emperor Augustus’ sister also had some great hair.

She also had a gleaming reputation. The ancient Romans loved her.

When her ex-husband Antony died, she raised not only her own children,

but both Fulvia’s and Cleopatra’s children by Marc Antony. Pretty nice lady.

Scholars are not sure which royal woman this is, but what a hairdo!

Again, beautiful hair!

This mosaic above is actually only the border surrounding a huge 8'x8' image.

What stood out to me about this piece was the bright colors

used for the mosaic and the elegant detail of the edges.

Here, Augustus stands in a more informal pose. Compared to his more infamous statues

 in armored breastplates, this one really gives me a sense of calm and

peacefulness. His is opening his arms and seems very welcoming.

This is a bust of Livia, Augustus’ wife. She has a varied reputation.

Some thought she was a excellent wife to Augustus;

others say she was the one to poison him. Based on her bust above, what do you think?

Finally, this is one image from the Villa of Livia. Livia had a room painted like a garden.

This fresco is the most complete one we have in present day.

All four walls are almost completely whole. Note all of the small birds

in the fresco. One is even sitting in my hair!

While the fresco is said to have been taken from Livia’s house, Augustus would have lived there, too. In fact, the Augustan family had a few nice houses all over the Forum and the country. Archeologists usually name a structure found during a dig for something found on the site. For example, if a picture of a boat is found on the wall of a site, the archeologist might name the whole building after the ship pictured. The naming doesn’t really reflect all of the character of the house, it just shows what contemporary scholars found on the dig.

Day 25: Ara Pacis

Hi everyone, I have not had internet access for the past few days. Check out the info for the past few days.

Today we visited the Ara Pacis or The Altar of Peace. The creation of this monument marked the beginning of the Pax Romana, a Golden Age of Rome with stability, world dominance, and peace between Rome and her neighbors. The memorial is highly ornate, surrounded by marble reliefs, depicting images of the people who attended the consecration ceremony for the memorial, images from mythology, and images from history. The image above is one of Mother Earth sitting among the bounty of a time of peace. She has two children on her lap, which is filled with fresh fruit. The animals on the ground are lapping up the abundant water that has spilled over the Earth. Mother Earth is surrounded by two attendants who are sitting on symbolic representations of wind. The swan symbolizes the favorable winds; the dragon-like creature symbolizes the winds of destruction.

We also walked all around the city. Everyday, my feet are extremely dirty, but today was the worst dirtiness yet.

Yuck!

Day 24: A Quick Tour of Rome

Today, it seemed like we were everywhere in the city: the Forum of Augustus, the Trevi Fountain, the Colosseum, Trajan’s Forum, and the Wedding Cake. Just listing it here is making me tired! Teacher-scholar Henry Bender is our tour guide and historical expert for the next two days. He makes the history of these ancient places come alive.

This fountain is built into a complete side of a building. In the center of the fountain stands Lord Poseidon, god of the sea. Beside him harnessing his horses are his sons. The roar of the fountain can be hear about one block away. It is a popular place to sit, lounge, and talk with friends. But, don’t think about swimming in the fountain or even putting a toe in the water. The police will give you a ticket!

In a dominant place in the Forum of Augustus stands this Temple to Mars, the god of war. While it doesn’t look like much now, check out what it would have looked like in the days of Augustus (early 1st century B.C.)

Right before a huge battle with the conspirators who assassinated his adopted dad (Julius Caesar), Augustus prayed to Mars and asked for victory over his enemies. After a two year struggle, he avenged his father and began the long journey to becoming Emperor of the Roman Empire. Once he arrived back in Rome (proper), he began plans for erect a huge Temple of Mars. He did not forget the god who helped him in his fight against Brutus and Cassius. This temple is said to have inspired another contemporary spiritual structure: Saint Peter’s Basilica, the home church of the Pope! Check out the similarities below:

Of course, our tour of Ancient Rome wouldn’t be complete without a little interference by the Fascist Italian dictator of the 1930s, Benito Mussolini. Mussolini was fascinated with Augustus and his amazing reign as first Emperor of the Imperial Rome. He hoped to be the 20th century’s Italian Augustus. In the hopes of being compared to Augustus, he also erected his own large structure, Victor Emmanuel Monument.

Locals call it the Wedding Cake because they think it is a bit of an eye-sore

in the middle of all of this ancient history.

Another interesting tidbit: The last place the Ark of the Covenant was seen was near the Roman Forum ruins. When the Roman Empire invaded Jerusalem and sacked the temple, the soldiers carried all of the Jewish treasures and mystical objects back to the city. There, in a specific garden in the Forum, the booty from the siege was displayed. This restaurant, above, sits on the last known location of the Ark. It has not been seen since 70 A.D.

Tomorrow, the monument dedicated to Peace. . .

Day 23: The Roman Forum

Today, we visited the Roman Forum, the town square of the late Republic. There are the streets that Julius Caesar, Cicero, Marc Antony, and Octavian would have strolled during their morning walk with the purpose to see and be seen. While the Forum doesn’t look like much now, most of the buildings that remain were places of great importance: temples, justice buildings, and memorials.

This is the curia or senate house. All 300 senators would gather in this great big building to discuss laws, wars, and other bits of legislation.

At the top of the main square sits the Temple of Julius Caesar. While it is not much to look at, it holds a place of prominence in the Forum. Also, this temple is a remaining symbol of how the Romans felt about Caesar: after his death, they made him a god. Here are flowers that present-day tourists leave in honor of the “Roman of Romans.”

Also, there are some amazing tributes to emperors who lived beyond Caesar’s lifetime. Here, the Arch of Septimus Severus looms large over the far end of the Forum. Its massive structure was created by Jewish slaves who had been captured during the sacking of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. What is ironic about the arch is that the images selected for the arch are battle scenes from the annihilation of Jerusalem. So, Jewish slaves had to create this massive marble sculpture celebrating a horrible part of their history. Kind cruel, don’t you think?


The forum was really cool. If you ever come to Italy and want to see Rome, check our Rick Steves’ guidebook. His “Walk through the Roman Forum” was filled with historical information and great tourist tricks. It is only the first day in Rome, and I am already learning from his notes!

Day 22: Leaving Stabia

Today, I woke up bright and early to say goodbye to Mount Vesuvius from the roof of our hotel. The volcano was slightly draped in cloud and glimmered in the purplish-pink sunrise. Our two weeks in Stabia has come to an end. It has been a wonderful experience: climbing Mount Vesuvius, visiting the homes of Pompeii from 79 A.D., and eating the delectable Italian dishes! What a great two weeks.


Now, we head to Rome. I am anxious to see the Roman Forum, the Vatican, and the newest Italian fashions! I am also looking forward to the air-conditioned hotel. :-)

Check out the image I first saw when I exited the Metro – talk about a big arena. The Ancient Romans always loved to impress.