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The Ancient Sites Of Rome
By:
Steven Cronin
For 3,000 years Rome has stood at the
forefront of civilization. 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 socialize 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 Coliseum is undoubtedly the most recognizable 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.
About The Author:
Steven Cronin owns the City Breaks website featuring city
break special offers from luxury hotels to budget
accommodations. For more information please visit
www.sargas.co.uk
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