The Morgans Go European

March 8, 2018 Palatine Hill, the Roman Forum, and the Colosseum

Today, we knocked out three Roman biggies. Palatine Hill was my favorite because it was the most park-like and it was wonderful getting off hard, city streets and sidewalks. At one point, we were walking across a carpet of pine needles and my feet rejoiced! Truly! I heard a faint song squeezing out of my shoes! The Palatine is where the rulers lived, for the most part. I think I read somewhere it's where we get the word "palace".

The Roman Forum sparked a lot of imagination. Most of it is rubble, but walking on roads and touching columns dating to the time of Rome, was powerful. I did find myself asking, did Romans walk around marble covered temples all day? Who did the work? But I guess we are only seeing the ruins of the rich. The working class didn't leave the same sized foot print.

The Colosseum was a mix of emotions. It was impressive, but also a slaughtering ground for animals and humans. According to Rick Steves, The Colosseum was inaugurated in 80 AD with a 100 day festival. During this big party, 2,000 men and 9,000 animals were killed. That's roughly one death every five minutes! Too gory for my tastes.

Circus Maximus runs along the base of the Palatine Hill. The huge basin is still buried. The Circus was used for the Roman chariot races. It held 150,000 spectators.

An arch that held up an aqua duct bringing water into the city.

The view of the Colosseum from Palatine Hill.

The Palatine Stadium-see plaque below.

The Palatine Stadium

I didn't have a great picture of the Imperial Palace. It's lots of rubble.

My favorite Roman.

Palatine Hill

Info for the picture above.

Looking down at the Roman Forum from Palatine Hill

The Roman Forum - The center of the civic and economic life in Republican times.

See Clare below

Clare holding up the Arch of Titus. Whew! Thanks Clare, it looks heavy!

This is one side chapel of the Basilica of Maxentius or Constantine. Maxentius started the building and Constantine finished it. The building is enormous and the model for all large churches to follow, especially St. Peter's Basilica.

Basilica of Maxentius - That small pink speck is Clare. She wanted to run the length of it. The hall of the basilica was as long as a football field. In the empty space behind her would have stood an enormous marble statue of Emperor Constantine on a throne. His finger was as big as a man.