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.