314 Session 2: 8-26-10

Rome vs. Jerusalem: Modern Day


It is often said that history repeats itself, which is a fascinating idea to try and comprehend. Certainly, the world is constantly learning from the events of the past, and growing in numerous ways. However, it is very interesting to see that there truly is congruence between the world we live in today and the societies of the past. As we study the relationship between Rome and Jerusalem, I am able to compare it to cultural clashes that we see today. I believe that there are two ways to view this. First, it is interesting to see that there are countries comparable to the structure and driving forces of Rome and Jerusalem. However, I find it more interesting to compare the relationship between the two cities to the relationship between cultures in our contemporary world. Specifically, I see many parallels between the culture clash of contemporary China and America to that of ancient Rome and Jerusalem.

Though Rome and Jerusalem were distinctly different cultures, they managed to have a very important relationship. Rome was the empirical city, based on “…magnificent power imposed through military might and the force of law…” where the strength clearly came from power (Goodman pg. 29). Romans made their wealth by going into the land of others and taking it over. They were truly an empirical culture. The city was overpopulated, and separated by the very poor and the very rich. There was no in-between in the ancient Roman times. However, it was yet a beautiful city, inspiring to those that visited. Rome was modern and technologically advanced during those times. In a lot of ways, this picture of ancient Rome reminds me of modern day China—an overpopulated advanced society that is one of a kind. The wealth of China is greatly made from their ability to provide products to the world. It seems as if objects made in China are found in every corner of the world. I find this comparable to the way that Rome left its mark on the world by taking cities over in a powerful way. Even though China is not physically fighting their way into other countries, they are similarly leaving a huge mark on the world, and are reaping benefits from this strength.

                   VS

On the contrast, Jerusalem was a city with a completely different structure and source of strength. It was largely based on faith and strength from religion. Jerusalem was a place with much more tolerance and ethical treatment from person to person. The poor lived alongside the rich, and the social stratification present in Rome was not a factor of how the Jews lived. In Goodman’s book, Rome and Jerusalem, Jerusalem is recognized as a holy place of revelation and miracles, with wealth being based on religious enthusiasm. In a lot of ways, the driving forces of ancient Jerusalem remind of present day America. America is a country that prides itself on equality and freedom, specifically when it comes to religion. I would not consider America to be as symbolically holy as Jerusalem was, but certainly the U.S. has a society and government based on eliminating the stratification among classes, gender, religion and race. These similarities make it easy for me to see a connection between ancient Jerusalem and the United States today.

                            VS

While it is interesting to make a connection between two ancient societies and two modern societies, I like to see the parallels in a deeper way. Not only do the societies connect individually, there is also a connection in the relationships between them. Even though Rome and Jerusalem were vastly different, there was an existing relationship between the two. They were both cities that were growing into beautiful cities at the same time. Being located in the same part of the world, they shared a lot of characteristics that made their lifestyles somewhat similar. Additionally, Romans travelled to Jerusalem and likewise Jews travelled to Rome. This led to a sharing of culture and ways of life between the two, no matter how differently the two societies were. We can see this same phenomenon between America and China today. No matter how vastly different the two are, there is a great deal of cultural transfer between the two. America depends a lot on China for industry, and China depends a lot on America for jobs and business.

The modern relationship of America and China has come to an inevitable point, such as was the relationship between ancient Rome and Jerusalem. Needs and wants, and often curiosity, bring even the most diverse people together. In my opinion, this is a fascinating thing to observe. I hope that America and China are able to remain as individual societies, while still depending on one another to grow. Unfortunately, the relationship that Rome and Jerusalem shared eventually turned into a violen conflict. Even though we see how accurately history tends to repeat, it is my greatest hope that modern societies are able to maintain civil relationships.

225: Tuesday, August 24

Sala della Lupa

1) The piece of art that stood out to me the most this week was Sala della Lupa, the She-Wolf of Rome.

2) The She-Wolf of Rome is located in the Conservator’s Apartment in the Capitoline Museum

3) The statue stands 75 cm high and is 114 cm long, and it is made of bronze.

4) Historical

As an ancient city, it may often seem like Rome has been around forever, without ever having a beginning. However, Rome’s history originates from the legend of Romulus and Remus, famously represented by Sala della Lupa, or the statue of the She-Wolf. Consequently, the She-Wolf has become a symbol of Rome. I find the history of this statue very interesting, because there are two ways to look at it.

First, I like to consider the details of the actual statue, that suggest when the statue was created and who made it. Based on research, there are several clues that lead us to believe the statue was created during the Etruscan times. According to our tour guide, Barbara, the statue was created sometime around the 5th century B.C. or later, which was during the Etruscan time period. Additionally, the Etruscans often build statues out of bronze, which is the material used to create the She-Wolf. Second, while the statue has several realistic details, it is also simplified in some aspects with a geometric style. For example, the hair of the wolf was made designed in a uniform, spiral pattern, which is unrealistic. This geometric style is very characteristic of Greek art, which greatly influenced Roman art during the Etruscan time (http://www.oldandsold.com/articles08/sculpture-12.shtml). The statues of Romulus and Remus, shown underneath the wolf, were added at a much later time, so it is hard to judge the original history based on them.

A second way to look at the history of the statue is to contemplate the actual story that influenced the artist to create it. The legend says that Romulus and his twin brother Remus were thrown into the Tiber River when they were babies so that they would not ever have the chance to become kings. However, the two boys were rescued and kept from starving by a she-wolf. Sometime later they were discovered and raised by a shepherd. Romulus then went on to found Rome and become its first king. This story has true significance to the history of Rome, and the she-wolf is and will forever be a symbol of the city. (http://www.historyonthenet.com/Romans/legend_of_rome.htm) I find it impressive that a legend or myth has left such an impact on the ancient history of Rome.

The Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius

1) My second chosen piece of art for this week is the Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius.

2) There are two copies of this statue, and the original is located inside the Capitoline Musuem, while the replica is located outside the museum in the Piazza del Campidoglio.

3) The statue is 3.5 meters tall and is made of bronze.

4) Iconology

In the very center of Rome lies the Capitoline Hill, which holds some of the city’s most famous and historical sculptures. Upon cresting the hill, one of these sculptures immediately enters into view—the Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius. However, this statue is just a replica of the actual sculpture which lies within the Capitoline Museum. After seeing both of these sculptures, it becomes evident that the artist was trying to tell a story. There is a lot of representation found within the Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius, specifically in the original.

During the tour of the museum, our tour guide gave us a little background of the situation represented by the statue. First of all, the emperor was riding in on his horse from battle. Knowing this makes it easier to interpret the body language displayed in the art. Even though Aurelius just came from war, he was not carrying any weapon. This suggests that he is coming into the city, where weapons are forbidden. The placement of his hands gives us a deeper look into the situation. While his left hand is placed on the once present reins, his right hand is up in the air, giving a sign of peace to the city. The horse Aurelius is riding also tells a story with its body position. The horse is raising one of his legs into the air. Our tour guide explained that the sculptor was most likely sign of peace indicates that he has no intention of killing the prisoner. I believe that the sculptor was making every effort to represent Aurelius as a peaceful and just ruler, so that for thousands of years to come people would respect the emperor. As an added detail, the artist covered the bronze statue in a thin layer of gold, indicating that Aurelius was of great importance to the city, and to history in general. To this day we know that gods and emperors were represented with gold, and it is immediately evident that Aurelius was a really important person of that time. The Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius has many symbols and details that I find it exhilarating to discover what everything represents. The stories that art and sculptures tell are complex and specific, and the statue of Aurelius is no exception.

**Info from our tour of the Capitoline Museum

325: Week 2 Blog 23-8-10

     As one of the many travelers to Rome, it is easy to see how people quickly become captured by all the stories told by the city. It is as if everywhere I turn I am provided with a new and complicated history lesson. That in itself is such an exciting idea. At the same time, it can be a lot to take in. During the rapid week and a half that I have spent experiencing Rome, I have felt many of the strong emotions that Rome provokes within people, and I truly understand why H.V. Morton describes Rome’s history to be both exhilarating and oppressive.

     Rome is truly one of the most interesting and inspiring places I have ever been. No matter how many pictures I take, I simply cannot capture what my eyes see every day. Even on the train ride we take every morning, I continue to find myself discovering something new. Each corner that we encounter reeks of history, and it is as if everything tells a story. For me, this surely is the exhilarating feelings of a traveler that H.V. Morton suggests. When I consider the word exhilarating, I think of things that make me happy in a way that is thrilling and takes my breath away. This history I have discovered in Rome so far does these things in many ways. The rich and complex history of Rome is emphasized by the many buildings left today. To me, this just proves in more than one way that the history of Rome is able to withstand time. Accurately, Rome is an exhilarating place for a traveler, often in ways that are unexplainable. Luigi Barzini spends page after page in his book, The Italians, trying to point out a reason for Italy in general to be so attractive to travelers, and in my reading so far he has not been able to put a reason behind it. Barzini says, “People still come as they came for centuries because they are attracted by a certain quality in Italian life. Whether they know what it is or not, it somehow quickens their blood.” I believe this unconscious quickening of blood that Barzini describes is exactly what makes the history of Rome so exhilarating. I am excited that this thrilling adventure has just begun.

Sunset on our campus

     H.V. Morton also described the history of Rome as an oppressive thing for travelers to experience. At first this idea seems a little strange because it is so contradictory to the history being exhilarating. However, through our in depth discussions in class and our detailed tours of several monumental places, I have begun to realize how demanding the history of Rome is. It is long, complicated, and often times confusing to get a grasp on. Frankly, it is plain exhausting, both physically and mentally. We walk for miles a day in order to see the ancient buildings of Rome’s past with our own eyes, and all the while I find myself struggling to recall the long detailed history of the city. This task is almost overbearing. Additionally, it is somewhat depressing to me when I realize how much of the ancient ruins we see are truly ruins. The buildings are not by any means in the condition of when they were constructed, and many cannot even be used today. In a way, that sort of brings me down to think about all the destruction that takes place over time. When it comes down to it, the history of Rome leads me to think about the future of where I live and come from, and places a sort of burden on how to protect my own history.

     It is easy to describe Rome as the beautiful, ancient, and surely exhilarating place that it is. As a traveler, these are the things you dream about before coming and experience upon arriving. However, it quickly becomes evident, at least from my experience, that the history is a lot to take in, whether you spend days or weeks studying it. The farther we dig, the deeper we go, and the history of Rome is deeper then I can at this point comprehend. And while this tends to be an oppressive idea, I remain excited about the history that I have yet to discover.

225: Tuesday, August 17

Fontana della Barcaccia

1) One object that truly captured me this week was Fontana della Barcaccia.

2) Fontana della Barcaccia is located beautifully in the center of Piazza di Spagna, right at the bottom of the Spanish Steps.

3) Fontana della Barcaccia was made of marble, like most of the structures during that time.

4) Iconography

As you walk around a city such as Rome, it is easy to get caught up in all the sights.  There is always something new and beautiful to look at. However, sometimes it takes a second look to discover the meaning behind all the various pieces of artwork in such an ancient city.  Fontana della Barcaccia left no room for exceptions.  

On Tuesday we visited Piazza di Spagna, a beautiful yet crowded and bustling place to be. Once I got past the overwhelming feeling of how much there was to look at, I realized that everything there was built for a purpose, and stood for something unique. Fontana della Barcaccia was created after a big flood left the square covered in water. Once the water receded, a small boat was left behind, and artist Pietro Bernini created the fountain to remember the event. However, I believe that Bernini was symbolizing much more than an event. The fountain is created in such a way that creates a serene and relaxing atmosphere that is incredibly inviting. To me, the leaking boat represents the flow of life. I’m sure that the flood of 1598 that left behind Bernini’s inspiration was very tragic, but eventually the water receded and life continued. Even after thousands of years, people come to enjoy the beauty of Fontana della Barcaccia. The serenity of the fountain symbolizes movement, relaxation, and even gives a sense of freshness. Katie Brown and I traveled a second day to Piazza di Spagna, at an early time of the day. There weren’t too many tourists around yet, so I got a chance to really sit and study the fountain. It was then that I truly realized how symbolic the fountain was of a continually thriving and fresh place. I believe that this speaks well of the whole Piazza di Spagna; there is so much ancient beauty captured in that one small area of Rome. It has been around for thousands of years, yet we marvel as if it is a newfound beauty to this day.

Temple of Julius Caesar

1) The second object that really stuck out to me was the Temple of Julius Caesar.

2) The temple is located within the Forum, along the Via Sacra.

3) The temple was about 98 ft long and 85 ft wide and was made of marble.

4) Historical

Julius Caesar was a politician and leader in Rome that gained popularity and support through his various victories during a time of political turmoil. He was very ambitious, and while many praised him, there were still others that feared his power would turn into dictatorship, and he was assassinated in the forum (Blue Guide pg 75). I believe that these events influenced the artist Augustus to build Caesar’s temple where he did. The intention and location, along with the time period, all greatly affected the design of Julius Caesar’s temple.

The temple was built in the middle of the Forum, which clearly indicates the importance of Caesar. It was one of the important buildings along the Sacra Via, or Sacred Way. The location in turn has a large effect on what the temple looked like. It was made of marble and built with columns in an Italian style. This is very reflective of the time, as all of the buildings were built with marble coverings at that time. To this day you can still see markings left on the rough edges of the buildings, such as this temple, where the marble was removed. By understanding the importance of the Forum, it makes it clear that Caesar’s Temple was built with specific design and location. Augustus wanted to honor Caesar in the highest way possible, so he built a magnificent temple to honor Caesar. He even decorated it with war ships from Caesar’s triumphs (http://sights.seindal.dk/sight/171_Temple_of_Caesar.html). Unfortunately, it is hard to imagine today what the temple looked back in that time, because most of it has been destroyed. However, based on the history behind the situation, I believe that it was something very beautiful.

325: Monday, August 16

Monday morning, the 16th of August, we had our first class in Rome. It was our first formal meeting as a group in a new country with completely new surroundings. At that point, with the Colosseum at the top of the list for site visits, and I had no idea what exactly to expect of Rome. It is easy to get a picture in your mind from discussions and photos in textbooks, but nothing really prepares you for what real life holds. From the moment we stepped into Italy, I think that my perspective started to change. And as we slowly became familiar with more places in this country, my expectations for what the first day visit into Rome would hold continually changed.

I have always thought of the ancient structures in Rome to be beautiful artwork, which they truly are. Millions of people travel thousands of miles in order to see the spectacular work that people created in history. It boggles our minds to try and understand how they successfully completed such complicated structures and paintings with the resources that were available. I have always had an ambition to see such beauty in person, in order to truly capture how ancient and magnificent structures such as the Colosseum are. However, in the past I had never considered much beyond the physical appearance of ancient art and architecture. Until Monday morning, I spent most of time trying to imagine what things like the Colosseum physically look like.

We began our class on Monday morning by discussing the books that we will be assigned to read during the semester, and tying them into our visits. I specifically remember our conversation about the book The Italians. In the forward, the author explained the tedious task that a painter faced when attempting to paint his mother. The author expressed the huge thought process that was in the painter’s mind before he began. For example, author Luigi Barzini says, “The Mother, in this case, is notoriously distinguished… I was determined to the most honest job of portraiture I possibly could.” This really made me start to think about the purpose behind an artist. They have a specific goal in mind when creating a new masterpiece, which takes great amounts of contemplation before the artwork is even started. I cannot imagine the amount of concentration and planning that come into a piece of art, whether in the form of a painting, sculpture, building, or any other way.

Thinking about art in this way made me look at the Colosseum in a whole new way. For example, I realized that there was so much more to the building then the ancient ruins we see today. It is not something that was created for people to look at later in life; the Colosseum was built for very specific purposes that I had never thought too deeply about before. It was a place of entertainment, where thousands of people flocked in order to experience athletic events that we cannot even imagine today.

Thinking about all these new ideas during the morning class helped me to go into the day’s visit with a whole new perspective. I didn’t look at the Colosseum as something that people just come to look at and marvel at the fact that the building is still standing. I found myself trying as hard as possible to picture the building as it was years and years ago. I tried to see the purpose that the Colosseum was built for. Looking with this new perspective helped me appreciate the trip to the Colosseum even more than I had expected, and leaves me curious to discover more.