Column of Marcus Aurelius contains a 200-step staircase- April 5, 2005 Column of Marcus Aurelius 8, originally uploaded by mharrsch. "The column of Marcus Aurelius is a direct imitation of that of Trajan, the height of shaft, torus, and capital being the same, 100 Roman feet (29.77 metres), but tapers less and therefore seems more massive. The shaft itself, 26.50 metres in height and 3.90 in diameter, is composed of 26 rings of Luna marble. It is hollow, and contains a spiral stairway with 200 steps. The interior is lighted by 56 rectangular loop-holes." -..http://uoregon.edu/~mharrsch/2005/04/column-of-marcus-aurelius-contains-200.html Pantheon dome a marvel of early engineering- April 5, 2005 Pantheon 6, originally uploaded by mharrsch. Then it was on to the Pantheon. I couldn't get a full shot of the dome and oculus because there was a huge scaffolding in the way due to reconstruction to repair water damage to the marble floor from rain. The dome, cast of concrete mixed with pumice and tufa poured over a wooden framework, spans 142 feet. It was the largest dome in Italy until Brunelleschi constructed the dome of the Florence Cathedral beginning in 1420."In truth, no one..http://uoregon.edu/~mharrsch/2005/04/pantheon-dome-marvel-of-early.html Fontana Dei Fiumi or Fountain of the Four Rivers- April 5, 2005 Obelisk 3, originally uploaded by mharrsch. "In the centre of the Piazza Navona is Bernini's most spectacular fountain, la Fontana dei Fiumi, erected in 1651. It features a central rocky structure that supports an obelisk that was an ancient Roman imitation of the Egyptian form. Around this structure are four giant statues by Bernini's pupils following his designs representing the Nile, the Danube, the Ganges, and the Rio della Plata, each representing one of the four quarters of the...http://uoregon.edu/~mharrsch/2005/04/fontana-dei-fiumi-or-fountain-of-four.html Fountain of Neptune at the Piazza Navona- April 5, 2005 Fountain at the Piazza Navona 5, originally uploaded by mharrsch. After touring Hadrian's Tomb we walked on to the Piazza Navona and I had two ornate fountains to photograph. The Piazza Navona is exceptionally long and owes its shape to the ruins that formed it, for under the buildings that surround Piazza Navona are the remains of the Circus Domitianus, Domitian's stadium. In ancient times the stadium was the site of the Agonal games, from which the present piazza takes its name by...http://uoregon.edu/~mharrsch/2005/04/fountain-of-neptune-at-piazza-navona.html Hadrian's tomb first incorporated into the Aurelian Wall- April 5, 2005 Castel S Angelo 37, originally uploaded by mharrsch. "As early as A.D. 403 the emperor Honorius may have incorporated the building in an outpost bastion of the Aurelian walls. In 537, when it was already a fortress, it was attacked by Vitiges and his Goths. In the 10th century it was transformed into a castle." - Rome Guidehttp://uoregon.edu/~mharrsch/2005/04/hadrians-tomb-first-incorporated-into.html War and Sacrifice- April 5, 2005 Castel S Angelo 23, originally uploaded by mharrsch. This frieze of a Roman emperor offering sacrifice served to inspire the men who later served within the walls of the Castel S. Angelo."The military was the greatest observer of religious events and possessed a calendar detailing the dates and events that were to take place. These involved rituals and displays of faith, especially to the emperor and the god Jupiter. Each unit would erect a new altar to the deity on the edge of the parade.http://uoregon.edu/~mharrsch/2005/04/war-and-sacrifice.html Hadrian's tomb converted to medieval fortress- April 5, 2005 Castel S Angelo 9, originally uploaded by mharrsch. The Castel S. Angelo, once known as the Mole Adriana, was not originally built for defensive purposes but as a funeral monument for the emperor Hadrian."It was finished in 139 CE, a year after the emperor's death, by his successor Antoninus Pious. Hadrian's ashes were then transferred there from their temporary burial-place in the former villa of Cicero at Puteoli It was then used up to the year 217 CE as a sepulchral for the Antonine...http://uoregon.edu/~mharrsch/2005/04/hadrians-tomb-converted-to-medieval.html King Victor Emanuel honored throughout Italy- April 5, 2005 Sculpture on Pont Victorio Emanuelle II 4, originally uploaded by mharrsch. King Victorio Emanuelle II is honored on monuments throughout Italy. King Victor Emanuel II of Savoia achieved the unification of Italy in 1870.In the wake of the Napoleonic Wars Italy was divided into a patchwork of kingdoms and duchies. The famous composer Verdi, a fervent adherent of liberal nationalism, was widely perceived as a figurehead for the unification movement (the Risorgimento). Although staunchly...http://uoregon.edu/~mharrsch/2005/04/king-victor-emanuel-honored-throughout.html |