It’s strange to look back and read my initial blog. It feels like I wrote it such a long time ago.The first was that I wanted to learn a lot of Italian. I must admit that for the longest time I felt like I was not reaching this goal, like I was not working hard enough. It’s only been in the past two or three weeks that I’ve really realized how much I’ve learn. My spelling is still horrible, I can’t remember the rules, I feel like as far as class goes I’m still confused, but when it comes to talking to people I understand a lot of what they say. It’s amazing how much I’ve habituated myself to hearing it. I can understand announcements in the train station, many of the questions people ask in shops or while they’re out, and mostly I am finding that I am finally understanding random little bits and pieces of people’s conversations. I have definitely progressed in Italian in a manner very different than I learned French or even the little bit of Spanish I know. I have appreciated having the ability to see just how much comes to you simply by listening and learning a few verbs. If I could do this trip over however, I would have studied some before I came.
The second was to learn about my Catholic heritage. I really have done this too. I know a lot more about the day to day practice of Catholicism than ever. However, I also have realized a lot about my own personal beliefs and how they relate. I share a lot of beliefs with Catholics. I already knew this to some extent but this trip has proven it even further. I’ve also been noticing how, as much as religion is a touchy subject for most people, it really isn’t for me. I really feel like I’ve heard it all before, as much as I think I might be too young to say that. People can be really insulting and I don’t even get upset. I guess I’m just to the point where I think people who say insulting things like that atheists have nothing to prevent them from committing murder are, well ,as wrong as someone who thinks that the Earth is flat. I’m beginning to find harsh, uneducated religious arguments amusing. Perhaps, I should be more alarmed, I’m not sure. I’ll certainly defend people who need defended. However, otherwise I think I’ll just let their boat sail off the edge of the Earth.
Apart from all that, I would say that I’m definitely more aware and comfortable with the person that I am. Travelling brings out a different side of people, and I’ve noticed things about myself that I’ve never noticed before. I guess most of these things are private but the basic just is I think I’m going to be even more mature after this. Ok, now that I’ve shared probably too much with everyone, all I can really say is grazie e arrivederci a Rome. This has definitely been the experience of a lifetime.
venerdì 9 ottobre 2009
More Fibonacci
Fibonacci sequence is one of life’s most interesting mathematical mysteries. The basic mathematical definition of the Fibonacci sequence is basically is that it starts with 0 and 1 and that every number after that equals the sum of the previous two numbers {0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21…}. The Fibonacci sequence is one of several recursive sequences, which means simply that it follows the rule that to get the next number one simply finds the sum of the previous two. The name Fibonacci comes from Leonardo Pisano Bigollo the son of Bonacci, a merchant trader with Africa. His most important contribution to mathematics was not the Fibonacci sequence that he is famous for; his greatest achievement was bringing Arabic Numerals to Europe. His father was a merchant and in Bigollo’s travels with him, he learned that Arabic Numerals functioned much better than Roman ones. Overtime, people remembered him only as the son of Bonacci or Fibonacci and not by his proper name which did not even have Bonacci in it. Fibonacci, although it was not the proper name was still the first mathematician to bring to light how the sequence reoccurred in nature.
The Fibonacci first noticed in the mating system of rabbits. Fibonacci noticed how rabbits multiplied and that the first month there would be 1 pair of rabbits, then the second month the female would be pregnant but there’d still only be 1 pair of rabbits. By the second month there would be 2 pairs of rabbits, the third month only one set of rabbits would be able to reproduce so there would only be 3 pairs of rabbits, so on and so on always following the sequence where a number would always add up to the previous two numbers. Since this discovery and actually even before it, mathematicians have found the Fibonacci sequence recurring in different places throughout nature.
It had been for a long time observed even in the doctrines of the Ancient Greeks, a certain aesthetically pleasing ratio that can be found in nature using the Fibonacci sequence. The ratio is formed by taken the current number over the previous number in the sequence {1/1, 2/1, 3/2, 5/3, 8/5…}. This sequence converges meaning that there is a single real number which the terms of this sequence approach more and more closely, eventually arbitrarily close. If we impose limits and assume that this sequence converges on a real number (this would be a fact that would require a proof). If we follow these rules we find that there is a simple quadratic equation to solve for x. or the golden ratio. Many things such as plant rings or the growth patterns of a snail shell fit in almost perfectly to this ratio. Even the sum of Pascal’s oblique triangles fits right into this pattern.
I think it was seeing that it fit into Pascal’s triangle that made me wonder, is this really a magical divine number for beauty or is it a sort of coincidence that these numbers follow this pattern. Another words, are these numbers simply golden because they are proportionate or is that not sufficient enough an explanation? There are some things that don’t fit the golden ratio, some flower’s petals do not fit the ratio perfectly. However, I guess I’ve never truly thought about whether everything has a mathematical explanation before or not. To me, if the very makings of the universe can somehow all be worked out into perhaps several mathematical sequences, well I’m not sure if I’d think that was divine or not. It remains amazing to me that everything from the Pantheon, to the works of Leonardo Di Vinci, to the United Nations building in New York used the golden ratio and the Fibonacci numbers in its creation.
The Fibonacci first noticed in the mating system of rabbits. Fibonacci noticed how rabbits multiplied and that the first month there would be 1 pair of rabbits, then the second month the female would be pregnant but there’d still only be 1 pair of rabbits. By the second month there would be 2 pairs of rabbits, the third month only one set of rabbits would be able to reproduce so there would only be 3 pairs of rabbits, so on and so on always following the sequence where a number would always add up to the previous two numbers. Since this discovery and actually even before it, mathematicians have found the Fibonacci sequence recurring in different places throughout nature.
It had been for a long time observed even in the doctrines of the Ancient Greeks, a certain aesthetically pleasing ratio that can be found in nature using the Fibonacci sequence. The ratio is formed by taken the current number over the previous number in the sequence {1/1, 2/1, 3/2, 5/3, 8/5…}. This sequence converges meaning that there is a single real number which the terms of this sequence approach more and more closely, eventually arbitrarily close. If we impose limits and assume that this sequence converges on a real number (this would be a fact that would require a proof). If we follow these rules we find that there is a simple quadratic equation to solve for x. or the golden ratio. Many things such as plant rings or the growth patterns of a snail shell fit in almost perfectly to this ratio. Even the sum of Pascal’s oblique triangles fits right into this pattern.
I think it was seeing that it fit into Pascal’s triangle that made me wonder, is this really a magical divine number for beauty or is it a sort of coincidence that these numbers follow this pattern. Another words, are these numbers simply golden because they are proportionate or is that not sufficient enough an explanation? There are some things that don’t fit the golden ratio, some flower’s petals do not fit the ratio perfectly. However, I guess I’ve never truly thought about whether everything has a mathematical explanation before or not. To me, if the very makings of the universe can somehow all be worked out into perhaps several mathematical sequences, well I’m not sure if I’d think that was divine or not. It remains amazing to me that everything from the Pantheon, to the works of Leonardo Di Vinci, to the United Nations building in New York used the golden ratio and the Fibonacci numbers in its creation.
mercoledì 7 ottobre 2009
Circe Transforms Picus into a Woodpecker
Unfortunately, I was unable to find a picture of this late 15th to early 16th century painting by Garofalo Ferrara, so it was difficult at best to find information on this blog. The most I could find were Italian websites, that did not have pictures and did not make sense when they were translated.
From what I could tell this painting was an excellant example of an early mistake in prospective drawing as there appear to be clear lines acrossed the pages going horizontally and not vanishing at all. The picture appears to be in rows up close, although the perspective appearance is fairly decent as you get further away. I would've thought this painting was fantastic had I not been looking for it. The error put it closer to our first attempts to draw vanishing points in my high school art class. It creates these layers that make it look very unrealistic.
Vanishing points was probably one of my favorite aspects from art class, however, I think in part because I cannot bring myself, for the most part, to critique artists who are doing a much better job than I would. I also found myself having trouble with the religious paintings because I spent along time debating how big babies or figures such as Jesus and the Virgin Mary should be. I lost track of the vanishing points.
From what I could tell this painting was an excellant example of an early mistake in prospective drawing as there appear to be clear lines acrossed the pages going horizontally and not vanishing at all. The picture appears to be in rows up close, although the perspective appearance is fairly decent as you get further away. I would've thought this painting was fantastic had I not been looking for it. The error put it closer to our first attempts to draw vanishing points in my high school art class. It creates these layers that make it look very unrealistic.
Vanishing points was probably one of my favorite aspects from art class, however, I think in part because I cannot bring myself, for the most part, to critique artists who are doing a much better job than I would. I also found myself having trouble with the religious paintings because I spent along time debating how big babies or figures such as Jesus and the Virgin Mary should be. I lost track of the vanishing points.
lunedì 5 ottobre 2009
We saw some unbelieveable artwork...
I’ve said before that I’ve decided that for the most part I agree with Leonardo Da Vinci, in the value of painting versus sculpting because you can do so much more with a painting than a sculpture. However, I am also someone who loves things with deep meaning, especially if that deep meaning is share by millions of people. It is for this reason, I think, that one of the most incredible statues we visited on this trip was the ancient bronze one of St. Peter in St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.
The statue is of St. Peter sitting atop a marble see from the early renaissance, a tiara around his head, holding high the keys to the kingdom of Heaven and giving a blessing and preaching to those below. I sits upon an alabaster base that was executed by Carlo Marchionni in 1757. The statue is clothed in amice, alb, stole, red cope and a ring so that it practically seems to come to life. The most amazing thing is how worn down his right foot is from the centuries of pilgrims rubbing them. Pilgrims rubbed and kissed the foot of St. Peter praying that he’d be merciful and open the gates of Heaven to them if they died during the pilgrimage. Today, I’ve noticed the legend is changing as many guided tours come through the museum. People are saying that his right foot is good luck or to rub it for an important prayer. Many people rub his foot and pray that they will get into Heaven but I think that most people no longer consider dying during the pilgrimage as a serious option the way they would’ve during the Middle Ages. I walked up and touched the foot and you could feel its power. The thought of so many people praying and believing in what St. Peter’s statue represents is incredible to me.
Behind it, there is what appears to be a beautiful brocade draping but it is actually a mosaic. Above the mosaic is a portrait of Pope Pius IX, the first Pope in nineteen centuries to hold the throne longer than St. Peter himself. St. Peter held the throne for twenty-five years and Pope Pius IX reined for 31. Tradition holds that the mosaic and the portrait are insuperable from the statue. To me its amazing either of these men could’ve lived long enough for that. However, I never really thought that a Pope reining longer than St. Peter would make him noteworthy enough to get his portrait directly behind St. Peter’s statue. I would imagine that after nineteen centuries people were beginning to think twenty-five years was the Divine limit.
A great mystery also surrounds the statue relating to who created it, as well as the epoch in which it was created. Datings range from as early as the fourth century and as late as the fourteenth century. Tradition has it that the statue was commissioned by St. Leo the Great as a token of gratitude for defeating Attila. This legend also says that the statue was made of the metal from a previous statue made by Giove Capitolino. In reality however, the oldest historical information on the work only dates back to the fifteenth. Currently, it is almost the unanimous opinion of historians that the author of the statue is more likely than not Arnolfo di Cambio(c. 1300) the artist who created the tabernacles of St. Paul and St. Cecilia, and the sacellum of Bonifacius VIII in the Constantinian Basilica. The snail like curls of the hair and beard are found in famous Arnolfian works and match thirteenth century Classicism.
Overall I found the whole of St. Peter’s Basilica to be absolutely incredible. I loved having the opportunity to see the Cathedral that is the most important in all of Catholicism. This statue is, of course, one of the most important works of art in the entire basilica. However, I find it amazing how everything in the Basilica has its own legend and story. Everything from the keys, to the tiara, to the picture behind the statue has its own history and symbolism. The year the statue was made really isn’t that important, it’s the energy behind it that is absolutely incredible.
The statue is of St. Peter sitting atop a marble see from the early renaissance, a tiara around his head, holding high the keys to the kingdom of Heaven and giving a blessing and preaching to those below. I sits upon an alabaster base that was executed by Carlo Marchionni in 1757. The statue is clothed in amice, alb, stole, red cope and a ring so that it practically seems to come to life. The most amazing thing is how worn down his right foot is from the centuries of pilgrims rubbing them. Pilgrims rubbed and kissed the foot of St. Peter praying that he’d be merciful and open the gates of Heaven to them if they died during the pilgrimage. Today, I’ve noticed the legend is changing as many guided tours come through the museum. People are saying that his right foot is good luck or to rub it for an important prayer. Many people rub his foot and pray that they will get into Heaven but I think that most people no longer consider dying during the pilgrimage as a serious option the way they would’ve during the Middle Ages. I walked up and touched the foot and you could feel its power. The thought of so many people praying and believing in what St. Peter’s statue represents is incredible to me.
Behind it, there is what appears to be a beautiful brocade draping but it is actually a mosaic. Above the mosaic is a portrait of Pope Pius IX, the first Pope in nineteen centuries to hold the throne longer than St. Peter himself. St. Peter held the throne for twenty-five years and Pope Pius IX reined for 31. Tradition holds that the mosaic and the portrait are insuperable from the statue. To me its amazing either of these men could’ve lived long enough for that. However, I never really thought that a Pope reining longer than St. Peter would make him noteworthy enough to get his portrait directly behind St. Peter’s statue. I would imagine that after nineteen centuries people were beginning to think twenty-five years was the Divine limit.
A great mystery also surrounds the statue relating to who created it, as well as the epoch in which it was created. Datings range from as early as the fourth century and as late as the fourteenth century. Tradition has it that the statue was commissioned by St. Leo the Great as a token of gratitude for defeating Attila. This legend also says that the statue was made of the metal from a previous statue made by Giove Capitolino. In reality however, the oldest historical information on the work only dates back to the fifteenth. Currently, it is almost the unanimous opinion of historians that the author of the statue is more likely than not Arnolfo di Cambio(c. 1300) the artist who created the tabernacles of St. Paul and St. Cecilia, and the sacellum of Bonifacius VIII in the Constantinian Basilica. The snail like curls of the hair and beard are found in famous Arnolfian works and match thirteenth century Classicism.
Overall I found the whole of St. Peter’s Basilica to be absolutely incredible. I loved having the opportunity to see the Cathedral that is the most important in all of Catholicism. This statue is, of course, one of the most important works of art in the entire basilica. However, I find it amazing how everything in the Basilica has its own legend and story. Everything from the keys, to the tiara, to the picture behind the statue has its own history and symbolism. The year the statue was made really isn’t that important, it’s the energy behind it that is absolutely incredible.
domenica 4 ottobre 2009
Four Rivers
I found Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s Fountain of the Four Rivers to be one of his more intriguing works. The Fountain of the Four Rivers is world renowned and found in the Piazza Navona in Rome. The fountain is of considerable size and is the central fountain in the piazza. This is mainly because it incorporates the central Egyptian Obelisk. The fountain incorporates a god representing four rivers from 4 continents. The Ganges represents Asia, the Nile for Africa, the Danube for Europe, and the Rio de la Plata for the Americas. Each carries traits that are metaphors and allegories such as the Nile’s head being drape in a cloth showing how no one at the time knew where the head of the river was.
This Fountain also has a very interesting historical background. First, this fountain was designed by Bernini for a competition he was never invited to enter. He had made his share of enemies and someone made sure the Pope did not invite Bernini to enter. A prince whose wife was the Pope’s niece persuaded Bernini to enter the contest anyway. When his design was unveiled in a place where the Pope could see it, Bernini’s rivals could not persuade Pope Innocent X away. This fountain was also built at the people’s expense at a time when bread was scarce. The people wanted the money to go to food instead of beautiful fountains. Of course, decent was dealt with in the usual fashion, the Pope had the writers who spoke out against him arrested. Overall, I enjoyed the Bernini tour despite my tired legs from our tours from the previous day. This was well worth it.
This Fountain also has a very interesting historical background. First, this fountain was designed by Bernini for a competition he was never invited to enter. He had made his share of enemies and someone made sure the Pope did not invite Bernini to enter. A prince whose wife was the Pope’s niece persuaded Bernini to enter the contest anyway. When his design was unveiled in a place where the Pope could see it, Bernini’s rivals could not persuade Pope Innocent X away. This fountain was also built at the people’s expense at a time when bread was scarce. The people wanted the money to go to food instead of beautiful fountains. Of course, decent was dealt with in the usual fashion, the Pope had the writers who spoke out against him arrested. Overall, I enjoyed the Bernini tour despite my tired legs from our tours from the previous day. This was well worth it.
lunedì 28 settembre 2009
Walk through the Religions of Rome
My tour is designed to show a small view on how this religious capitol has progressed throughout the years, from the days of gods and goddesses to the present religious conflicts. There were so many places I could begin my tour at the remains of the Temple of Venus and Roma in the Roman Forum behind the Santa Maria Nova church. We’ll start with this Temple because it was originally the most prominent in the forum and is now barely replicated behind the Santa Maria Nova not far from the Arch of Titus. This Temple was built to honor the goddess Venus the mother of Roma Aeneas and the ancestor of Roma Aterna whose cult localized on the Velia. This Temple showed how strongly the emperor was influence by Greek Architecture. The visible remains date back to 307 when the emperor Maxentius restored it after a fire. This is thought to be the last pagan temple that remained in use in Rome. It was closed in 391 AD by Theodosius. It remained intact until 625 when Honorius I stole the bronze tiles off its roof to create the Old St. Peter’s Cathedral.
We can now see the many pagan temples and Christian churches around the Forum as we head up the Sacra Via the road directly in front of the Santa Maria Nova. You’ll notice that some of the churches may look sealed like temples whereas others you can go inside. Many temples were converted and reused. This is one of the reasons these buildings are still there. We’ll follow the winding road from the Basilica of Maxentius, past the temple of Romulus. At the fork in the road steer left away from the S. Lorenzo in Miranda church that was originally the Temple of Antoninus and Faustina. Here you’ll find the Temple of Vesta and behind it where the rose garden lies in the ruined courtyard is our next stop, The House of Vesta. This is where the Vestal Virgins were housed. Thought to go back as far as the second king of Rome Numa Pompilius or even as far back as Aeneas who brought the eternal fire from Troy to Rome along with the images of the penates (household gods). Six daughters from patrician families between the ages of 6 and 10 were chosen to be the Vestals for 30 years. 10 years learning her duties, 10 performing them, and 10 teaching novices. After 30 years Vestals returned to the world and some even married. Until then however they took a vow of chastity that if broken meant that they would walled-in alive inside the Campus Sceleratus. The man was publically flogged to death in the Forum. As guardians of the eternal fire it was prophesized that the end of the Vestals was the end of Rome.
We can backtrack now and continue to follow the Sacra Via by S. Lorenzo in Miranda, turning left in front of the Tabernae Novae, and making a right to stay on the Sacra Via while that road ends. Head straight past the Arch of Tiberius at the end of the road, straight ahead you’ll see the Temple of Vespasian make a left right by this and you’ll follow the Clivus Capitolinus, up the stairs to begin your climb up Capitoline Hill. You’ll see a small miniature of the she-wolf off the side of a building to your left as you reach the top of the hill. In this piazza the Capitoline Museum will be on your left. This is the next stop on the tour. Inside the Capitoline you can finish your tour of the Roman gods. You’ll find that much of the artwork and statues of pagan emperors were preserved here only because they were not identified correctly. As Christianity became the religion of Rome, people did what they could to destroy the pagan past. It made sense to them at the time. Sadly however, as they did this they destroyed part of their own past and assets to humanity.
Exit the Capitoline Museum to the left and head down the stairs. When you get to the bottom turn to your right and head right back up those stairs again. This is the Santa Maria Aracoeli. This is the church that stands in the spot where according to medieval tradition; Tiburtine Sibyl appeared to Augustus to announce the coming of Christ. Enter and look at the ancient 8th century artwork. There is a tomb of a cardinal along the west wall, beautiful fresco in the south isle, and the beautiful high alter with marble ambones from the early church.
Exit down the stairs and turn left away from the beautiful white building, the Vittorio Emmaunele. Follow the Via del Teatro di Marcello pas the Theatre of Marcellus crossing the street by the Santa Nicola in Carcere and making a right onto the Olitorio Jugario. Turn right onto the next road Lung. Dei Cenci. Follow this road as it curves around to the back of a white building with different architecture just after you pass the Piazza Monte Savello. You’ll notice Italian Police blocking off any entrance. This is the Synagogue inside the Jewish Ghetto. It is an important trip in our journey around Roman religion. Inside the Jewish Ghetto the culture is different. There are fewer cars, almost every shop is selling kosher food, and most men are wearing kippahs. When school lets out at one you can see children in a white and blue school uniform throughout the streets. The culture here is amazing. The guarded Synagogue is beautiful but contrasting from the rest of Roman architecture. The ghetto tells the story of past racism and religious discrimination that the world must never forget. The police outside the Synagogue however, tell the story of a modern problem with anti-Semites. The food here is amazing, I highly recommend stopping for a bite to eat and taking in this culture within Rome.
However will now continue to follow past the Synagogue along the Lung. Dei Cenci a road that follows the river Tiber. This walk will be a long one we’ll pass many beautiful bridges along the way. You’ll pass the Ponte G. Mazzini, Ponte Pr. Amadeo Savoia Aosta, and Ponte Emmaunele II. The bridge you’ll want to cross at is Ponte S Angelo, facing the beautiful Mausoleum of Hadrian. As soon as you turn to the left, you’ll see St. Peter’s square and the incredible Cathedral. This is the Vatican, a major part of modern Rome is to be the religious capitol of the Catholic, and in many ways the entire Christian world. This is where St. Peter is buried. These buildings were designed to honor him and to honor God. Two miles away, at a downhill slope hidden where you cannot see it, there is the largest mosque in Europe. The Vatican allowed it to be created although many people felt that it shouldn’t be. How can the largest mosque in Europe be in the capitol of the Christian world? What does allowing this mean? What should we do with the past? Artifacts from an era are missing because one religion decided to try and erase parts of another, but then again would Christianity have been as successful if Rome had continued to allow the pagan temples to remain? What can we actually learn?
We can now see the many pagan temples and Christian churches around the Forum as we head up the Sacra Via the road directly in front of the Santa Maria Nova. You’ll notice that some of the churches may look sealed like temples whereas others you can go inside. Many temples were converted and reused. This is one of the reasons these buildings are still there. We’ll follow the winding road from the Basilica of Maxentius, past the temple of Romulus. At the fork in the road steer left away from the S. Lorenzo in Miranda church that was originally the Temple of Antoninus and Faustina. Here you’ll find the Temple of Vesta and behind it where the rose garden lies in the ruined courtyard is our next stop, The House of Vesta. This is where the Vestal Virgins were housed. Thought to go back as far as the second king of Rome Numa Pompilius or even as far back as Aeneas who brought the eternal fire from Troy to Rome along with the images of the penates (household gods). Six daughters from patrician families between the ages of 6 and 10 were chosen to be the Vestals for 30 years. 10 years learning her duties, 10 performing them, and 10 teaching novices. After 30 years Vestals returned to the world and some even married. Until then however they took a vow of chastity that if broken meant that they would walled-in alive inside the Campus Sceleratus. The man was publically flogged to death in the Forum. As guardians of the eternal fire it was prophesized that the end of the Vestals was the end of Rome.
We can backtrack now and continue to follow the Sacra Via by S. Lorenzo in Miranda, turning left in front of the Tabernae Novae, and making a right to stay on the Sacra Via while that road ends. Head straight past the Arch of Tiberius at the end of the road, straight ahead you’ll see the Temple of Vespasian make a left right by this and you’ll follow the Clivus Capitolinus, up the stairs to begin your climb up Capitoline Hill. You’ll see a small miniature of the she-wolf off the side of a building to your left as you reach the top of the hill. In this piazza the Capitoline Museum will be on your left. This is the next stop on the tour. Inside the Capitoline you can finish your tour of the Roman gods. You’ll find that much of the artwork and statues of pagan emperors were preserved here only because they were not identified correctly. As Christianity became the religion of Rome, people did what they could to destroy the pagan past. It made sense to them at the time. Sadly however, as they did this they destroyed part of their own past and assets to humanity.
Exit the Capitoline Museum to the left and head down the stairs. When you get to the bottom turn to your right and head right back up those stairs again. This is the Santa Maria Aracoeli. This is the church that stands in the spot where according to medieval tradition; Tiburtine Sibyl appeared to Augustus to announce the coming of Christ. Enter and look at the ancient 8th century artwork. There is a tomb of a cardinal along the west wall, beautiful fresco in the south isle, and the beautiful high alter with marble ambones from the early church.
Exit down the stairs and turn left away from the beautiful white building, the Vittorio Emmaunele. Follow the Via del Teatro di Marcello pas the Theatre of Marcellus crossing the street by the Santa Nicola in Carcere and making a right onto the Olitorio Jugario. Turn right onto the next road Lung. Dei Cenci. Follow this road as it curves around to the back of a white building with different architecture just after you pass the Piazza Monte Savello. You’ll notice Italian Police blocking off any entrance. This is the Synagogue inside the Jewish Ghetto. It is an important trip in our journey around Roman religion. Inside the Jewish Ghetto the culture is different. There are fewer cars, almost every shop is selling kosher food, and most men are wearing kippahs. When school lets out at one you can see children in a white and blue school uniform throughout the streets. The culture here is amazing. The guarded Synagogue is beautiful but contrasting from the rest of Roman architecture. The ghetto tells the story of past racism and religious discrimination that the world must never forget. The police outside the Synagogue however, tell the story of a modern problem with anti-Semites. The food here is amazing, I highly recommend stopping for a bite to eat and taking in this culture within Rome.
However will now continue to follow past the Synagogue along the Lung. Dei Cenci a road that follows the river Tiber. This walk will be a long one we’ll pass many beautiful bridges along the way. You’ll pass the Ponte G. Mazzini, Ponte Pr. Amadeo Savoia Aosta, and Ponte Emmaunele II. The bridge you’ll want to cross at is Ponte S Angelo, facing the beautiful Mausoleum of Hadrian. As soon as you turn to the left, you’ll see St. Peter’s square and the incredible Cathedral. This is the Vatican, a major part of modern Rome is to be the religious capitol of the Catholic, and in many ways the entire Christian world. This is where St. Peter is buried. These buildings were designed to honor him and to honor God. Two miles away, at a downhill slope hidden where you cannot see it, there is the largest mosque in Europe. The Vatican allowed it to be created although many people felt that it shouldn’t be. How can the largest mosque in Europe be in the capitol of the Christian world? What does allowing this mean? What should we do with the past? Artifacts from an era are missing because one religion decided to try and erase parts of another, but then again would Christianity have been as successful if Rome had continued to allow the pagan temples to remain? What can we actually learn?
mercoledì 23 settembre 2009
St. Peter's Basilica
One thing that struck me rather strongly about the Vatican is how well it blends in with Rome. I don’t know how to explain it really, but in all the pictures I’ve seen of the Vatican I never really associated it with Italy. I was always taught that it was an independent country inside Rome, and thus I thought of it as such. However, the buildings are built in such a Roman style that it becomes barely separable from the rest of Rome. The dome shaped structure of St. Peter’s Basilica, the beautiful columns; I felt that the entire style reminded me of the Pantheon or many of the other churches we’ve seen. Of course, the size is incomparable, and as is the enormous amount of work that went into the church.
An international flare crops up everywhere as the church floor compares the size of the church to many other humungous churches found worldwide. Also, almost every sign was also in English, which is the language many other people would know. Although Italian is one of the official languages of the Vatican (Latin being the other), I must admit I was surprised more were not used, especially Spanish. There is definitely an effort within the entire Vatican including the Basilica to make all Catholics feel welcome. I did not feel so obligated to speak Italian here, and I was amazed by the diversity around me. It seemed that you could tell everyone was from somewhere, and yet there was a religion in common. St. Peter’s Basilica is an incredible place to visit and I will never forget it.
An international flare crops up everywhere as the church floor compares the size of the church to many other humungous churches found worldwide. Also, almost every sign was also in English, which is the language many other people would know. Although Italian is one of the official languages of the Vatican (Latin being the other), I must admit I was surprised more were not used, especially Spanish. There is definitely an effort within the entire Vatican including the Basilica to make all Catholics feel welcome. I did not feel so obligated to speak Italian here, and I was amazed by the diversity around me. It seemed that you could tell everyone was from somewhere, and yet there was a religion in common. St. Peter’s Basilica is an incredible place to visit and I will never forget it.
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