Wednesday, 2 September 2015

My name is Gladiator

Early breakfast in the garden, a wander down the Aventine hill and then two stops on the metro to Colossea to join a guided tour of the Flavian Amphitheatre (nicknamed Colosseum).  It was surprisingly quiet at opening time of 8.30 and we picked up our ticket to await the tour start.  The tour was a small group, lasting just over an hour, and took us to the arena floor, the underground area and the third tier of the structure - all areas we could not access on an individual ticket.

The underground area was amazing.  This was the area where the animals, slaves and gladiators gathered - slaves to work the pulley elevators shifting crated animals and props for the 'games', and gladiator-slaves to fight each other or an animal to the death.  The amphitheatre was the idea of Vespasian, emperor and founder of the Flavian dynasty, who wanted to give something back to the people (not the slaves obviously!).  It was inaugurated by his son Titus in AD 80 with 100 days of celebratory games.  Now, 'games' is really not the word to use here...the cruelty on such scale is incomprehensible.  What was incredible is the way in which the amphitheatre operated.  It held up to 70,000 spectators, who entered at numbered gates, depending on their social status, and sat at numbered places - the numbers carved into the stone and some still visible today.  The excavations and conservation continue and we saw a section of fresco on a wall that was uncovered only last year.

After the tour we were on our own but our ticket gave us access to the Palatine.  The Palatine is a treed hill that was home to Rome's first emperor Augustus and his wife Livia, although it's mythical link is to Romulus and Remus, who supposedly founded Rome with a village at this site.  Amongst the pine trees are the ruins of Augustus and Livia's residence, gardens, fountains and courtyards - dating to 1st century BC.  We loved the Palatine hill.  It is atmospheric, the pine fragrance fills the air and you get a sense of life there - but then maybe this was just in contrast to the bloodiness that was the Colosseum.

We headed home, stopping at our favourite spot - the Tram Depot - for a fruit juice served in a huge glass jar with a straw through the lid - love it!









3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Looks amazing - what stories are in those walls! For now, at the end of the day, I'd like to join you at the Tram Depot, and sit on that chair. Fi

Anonymous said...

Hi Sally & Brent, You are right 'games' is not the right word, such cruelty, and for what! What a good way to finish your tour "amongst the pine trees".....perfect. Love L&G

Anonymous said...

Now firstly Sally, can you please settle an argument Fiona and I are having over the third photo from the top - that IS Russell Crowe in a still shot between scenes in 'Gladiator'?? Thought so, Fiona insists that is BRENT!! Yeah, I know, how could she make such a mistake - perhaps it was the chemicals they put in her hair during her 3 hours at the hairdresser - yes 3 HOURS! JUST FOR A BASIC COLOUR JOB! Yep, no foils, no cut, just a spray of Autumn Leaves Brown and a bit of a brush.

Now for my money I reckon 3 hours sitting down surrounded by Women's Weekly magazines and ladies discussing 'The Bachelor' while being bombarded by chemical weapons and pointy, snippy, cutty things would be heaps worst than fronting up to the Colosseum and facing a grumpy
lion or Elasticus carrying a sword,a bad attitude and not much else.

In fact it is definitely tougher for your average Melbournian just getting through their week than for any Roman Gladiator. Think about it - Doncaster Shopping Town car park on Saturday morning, any tram during peak hour, caught in the rush at Southgate on half price Taco Tuesday or watching our Federal Politicians explaining why it is in our best interests that we lock up the desperate and destitute on Manus island.

No, the Romans had it easy and the sooner we stop feeling sorry for them the sooner we can focus on some real problems - Rustic Bakery didn't have any custard tarts this morning AAGGGHHHH!!!!