The Ancient Sites Of Rome
For 3,000 years Rome has stood at the forefront of
civilisation. The might of the Roman Empire brought great
wealth and prosperity to the city and its allies. Rome became a
treasure trove of extravagant architecture and monuments.
As fortune smiled down on Rome, their riches established
communities endowed with ornamental landmarks, many of which
stand to this day.
At the core of the once mighty Empire, The Roman Forum was the
heart and soul of government. Originally a cemetery, the Forum
grew with the Empire and was the nucleus of everyday life.
Aristocracy would socialise and decide the course of history
during lavish banquets, drinking their wine and gorging on the
luscious food.
At the centre of the Forum is the Temple to Julius Caesar built
by Augustus, his adopted son and first Roman Emperor. The fresh
flowers signify the exact spot where Caesar was cremated.
The Colosseum is undoubtedly the most recognisable of all
ancient Rome’s landmarks. Built by Jewish slaves, the
amphitheatre was synonymous with blood sports.
Opened by Emperor Titus in 80 AD, the imperial thirst for
bloodshed was insatiable. Gladiators became infamous overnight
as battles between man and beast caught the imagination of the
Roman public.
Hundreds of thousands of men and beasts were slaughtered during
the course of these Roman games. The butchery continued
mercilessly until these particular blood sports were outlawed
in 523 AD.
The communities of the Empire held the Roman gods in high
esteem; religion played a significant part in the lives of the
Romans and homage was paid frequently to those in higher
places.
The Pantheon was built as a temple to the gods. The original
was destroyed by fire in the 1st century BC resulting in dismay
amongst the communities.
During the early part of the 2nd century AD, Emperor Hadrian
took it upon himself to rebuild the monument and provide his
people once more with a pathway to the gods. Hadrian was an
amateur architect and completed the new temple in 125 AD.
Two mammoth doors, like sentinels standing before the path to
the gods guard the entrance to the temple. The doors were
extensively restored during the 17th century, raising doubts
whether they can ever again be classed as original.
Once inside, the unexpected scale of the interior is
awe-inspiring. Marble panels grace the walls and floors;
remarkably, half of the wall panels are from the original build
nearly 2,000 years ago.