Peace and Gods

The weather was brilliant today. Temperatures peeked over 80 degrees under the direct sunshine. We actually didn't have class scheduled until 3:00P today, so I had a chance to sleep in until 10:30. I also had time to visit Punto, a larger grocery store, to pick up a few items. I was glad to discover they had shampoo/body wash, which I'd been unable to find at the smaller store (and have been running a bit low on).

As it turns out, we voted to shift class up to 2:00P, so that we'd have a chance to watch the USA-Algeria soccer match. In any case, we first paid a visit to the Ara Pacis - an ornate altar of peace created by Augustus. We toured and discussed the imagery all around and inside the Ara Pacis. It is incredible how archaeologists and historians have been able to collect the and reconstruct the scattered pieces of the structure, even recreating the imagery of lost pieces from historical records. The Ara Pacis is housed inside a modern, angular building of glass, steel, and polished stone. The building is well ventilated and lit, providing a comfortable and appealing frame for the whitewashed marble of the Ara Pacis. Outside, though, the building sticks out like a sore thumb amidst the traditional, rustic buildings of Rome. Apparently there are many residents who resent the presence of the modern building, especially since it was designed by an American architect in lieu of an Italian one.

We then visited the Pantheon, which I described earlier. Apparently engineers are still unable to comprehend how the Romans were able to construct the massive unreinforced concrete dome of the Pantheon. We learned that rain falls straight into the Pantheon thorugh the oculus (the large hole in the center of the dome), where it is diverted through drains in the marble floors. When the building was converted into a church, it is said that the evil pagan spirits it housed were driven out through the same oculus.

I didn't take many more pictures of the Pantheon, since I'd already done so earlier, but the place was just as full and bustling as before. Most of the group left to watch the soccer match afterward, though a few went to get gelato or return to their apartments.

My afternoon was largely devoted to reading about Italian history for class tomorrow. David and I went to get paninis at a nearby grill, but unfortunately they were nothing special. Oh well, can't win them all.