Busy Week in Rome

It’s been a busy week in Rome!  On Tuesday morning, our history class began with the Field of Mars, or Campus Marshus.  This happens to be where Julius Caesar was assassinated, and it also happens to be where our studio is located.  The Campus Martius contained several important buildings; studio is in the location where the Theatre of Pompeii once sat.  These ruins we walk by every day sit in the center of Rome and were Republican Temples in the 2^nd-3^rd Cent. BCE that Pompei incorporated into his Theatre Complex.  

Here is the Ara Pacis Museum designed by Richard Meier.  This is one of the only contemporary structures in Rome since Mussolini’s regime, and has caused some controversy amongst the city.

I know I mention Piazza Navona quite often, but this elegant horseshoe piazza was once built for athletic competitions.  Piazza Navona is built on the foundations of the Stadium of Domitian.

And again with the Pantheon, although I acknowledge that no photo can do this building justice.  At one time this dome was a great symbol of power, and the oculus as a single light source expresses the single power of the emperor.  The inter-columnar space in this structure is much too large for the Romans.  Take note that the 2^nd pediment line at the top fits the rotunda.  60-foot columns are too small, and the Pantheon was most likely designed for larger columns from Egypt.  Theory is that when Hadrian could not get the right sized columns, it was easier to build a new pediment, than wait the years it would take to get columns to the correct size. 

Column of Marcus Aurelis.  This column depicts victory against the barbarians.   Images are gruesome and violent.

I’m sure you can tell that I love this history class.  It is so awesome to learn from the actual buildings and be able to see everything in person as we learn.  It is certainly not the way I am used to learning history! With our entrance to the Roman Forum we also were allowed 24 hours to see the Colloseum interior on our own time.  Ryan, Sarah, George, Steph, Dan, Hillary and Andrew and I went on Tuesday after history and were in absolute awe of the inside of this massive stadium.

On Friday morning Vyt, Marina, and the rest of us went to see the Michelangelo Exhibit at the museum on the Campidoglio.  Seeing some of the architectural drawings of Michelangelo was mind blowing.  My favorite of his works were a series of elevation studies. Here is me with the foot of the statue of Constantine. 

Part of the Temple of Jupiter has been excavated and lies in the museum.  Here is the base of what was once the most sacred temple in Ancient Rome.

This weekend has been spent mostly in studio, drawing plans, sections, and details of the Campidoglio for my Urban Analysis.  Sarah, Ryan and I went to a new place for dinner; pizza, and tiramisu= great Saturday night!