Veni, Vedi, Vici
This week, school gave us very implicit directions on how to get to Rome for two activities: a visit to the Foro di Traiano and the Museo delle Terme. Bright and early, we headed into Rome and were not disappointed.
1st stop: the Roman Forum! One can see the enormous forum by simply walking along the streets of Rome outside of Piazza Venezia, but inside one really gets a feel for why an emperor would want it built in the first place. It is set up as truly a social center, but its clear business would have been well organized and politics, scandals, and current event seem to echo through the porticos. We had the opportunity to discuss the architecture with an archaeologist on site. She mentioned how on top of being modern in its concept, the construction was very contemporary. Mussolini cut through half of the Forum for his parade, but at least we can still see how the architect Apollodorus di Damascus (Greek architect) pulled off the project with his concrete inside - brick outside design. We ourselves were given the opportunity to make bricks, and even some mosaics! It was a hands-on experience not many get to have inside the Forum.
In the afternoon, we ventured to the Museo delle Terme where many Roman copies of famous Greek pieces now reside. It's really something to walk through a museum with an art history teacher; they can tell you things that make statues come alive and give little details you might skip over under the impression they are irelevant. It's a small museum with respect to others in Rome, but it was certainly packed with cool art and interesting back stories.
The day was incredibly stancante. Lots of walking and a ton to see, but oh so exciting!
1st stop: the Roman Forum! One can see the enormous forum by simply walking along the streets of Rome outside of Piazza Venezia, but inside one really gets a feel for why an emperor would want it built in the first place. It is set up as truly a social center, but its clear business would have been well organized and politics, scandals, and current event seem to echo through the porticos. We had the opportunity to discuss the architecture with an archaeologist on site. She mentioned how on top of being modern in its concept, the construction was very contemporary. Mussolini cut through half of the Forum for his parade, but at least we can still see how the architect Apollodorus di Damascus (Greek architect) pulled off the project with his concrete inside - brick outside design. We ourselves were given the opportunity to make bricks, and even some mosaics! It was a hands-on experience not many get to have inside the Forum.
In the afternoon, we ventured to the Museo delle Terme where many Roman copies of famous Greek pieces now reside. It's really something to walk through a museum with an art history teacher; they can tell you things that make statues come alive and give little details you might skip over under the impression they are irelevant. It's a small museum with respect to others in Rome, but it was certainly packed with cool art and interesting back stories.
The day was incredibly stancante. Lots of walking and a ton to see, but oh so exciting!
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