Roman Rubble - Lilyanna Reed Jan 26th

 

One of the first things we saw upon arriving in the historical city of Rome was the world-famous Colosseum. This ancient arena was far larger and more complex than I expected, and I could imagine how impressive and central to society it would have been in its glory days when games were still being held in the city. I was struck by how similar it is to modern day sports stadiums with the crowded halls opening up to a massive field, and could almost imagine I was on my way to a baseball game back in the States.

Another interesting place we visited in Rome was the ancient Forum, located right next to the Colosseum and serving as a gathering place for important people of the time. Though it's now a nearly unrecognizable pile of stones, the forum was where Julius Caesar once lived when he was assassinated in 44 BC and eventually a group of buildings belonging to a single very rich person.

We also saw the steps where Caesar was stabbed 27 times over two thousand years ago, which was especially shocking when we saw all of the modern buildings and businesses surrounding the archaeological site, including a pizza restaurant with a bright neon sign. The ruins are now used to protect homeless cats from the surrounding city, which I believe has Julius Caesar rolling in his grave as the former government building is now used by a society of cats.

All in all, Rome has so many ruins and remainders of their history saved in stone it's easy to imagine the ancient city in its former glory, showing us the greatness that has inspired dozens of societies in the centuries since its fall.