CIAO!

We have finally arrived in Rome! We got to the city around 2:00 p.m. yesterday after a seven hour flight, followed by a three hour layover, another one-and-a-half hour flight, and only two hours of sleep. With that said, there was no rest for the weary. Right away we began touring the city. Our first stop was to the Lay Centre, which hosts students from around the world who are studying at local colleges. While walking there, we casually passed the colosseum. The sites here are unbelievable: I cannot describe how incredible it is to be surrounded by so much history.

This morning a small group of us ventured to the Trevi Fountain. The fountain is unlike any I have ever seen. What is even more impressive is its architecture.

The fountain was originally built in the 17th century. During this time, Rome was considered to be the Rome of the Pope. There was a general fascination with beauty and power throughout the city, as well as a movement to restore tradition. This fountain was built to commemorate the triumph of water. There are several layers of art in this fountain, the most obvious being the statute in the middle which represents Oceanus, the Greek divinity of the sea. Oceanus is riding on a chariot which is pulled by tridents. Behind Oceanus are two statues; the statue on the left represents abundance, while the one on the right is a symbol of purity. Above the statues are scenes that depicts a virgin leading men to the source of pure water, and the building of the aqueducts which were so important to Roman life. While the fountain is a beautiful sight, understanding its significance to the Roman culture makes it even more fascinating. Furthermore, this fountain speaks to the relationship between Catholics and Greek gods at the time. Since this was commissioned by a Pope, it signifies that Greek gods were still significant figures during this time, but there was a way to use them as symbols without worshiping them. 

Today we also visited the Lay Centre for a second time. We saw Palatine Hill, the hill on which the city of Rome was founded. This was the location Romulus and Remus fought to decide which of the seven hills to build on. While the original palace no longer remains, ruins stand along side of the church of St. Sebastian. On a symbolic level, this panoramic view represents that while the empire is in ruins, God's good grace will never fail. 

Later, the Roman Empire would be burned to the ground by Nero, who would blame the fire on Christians. This act of injustice eventually led to the first execution of Christians. 

We also had the opportunity to visit the home of John and Paul, two martyrs who were killed in this house. What I found most interesting about this site was the artwork on the walls. 

This house was built by a Christian family; however, there are no Christian figures in the artwork. The only possible resemblance to Christian images is in the family room. 

The figure in this image is thought to be a women in an oran position, which signifies praying. It is possible that this single figure is a symbol for "church". 

Today was filled with rich history about Rome, as well as amazing experiences in a new city!