Roman holiday - 3
 Rome has inspired many poets, architects and film producers as well. The great Colosseum looms large in front of us when we think about Rome. Having seen Colosseum in Cinemas and film shows I was indeed very eager to visit it. Situated on the heart of the city near the relics of the Roman Forum, it is
Rome’s greatest amphi theatre. On a marshy site on the grounds of Nero’s palace Emperor Vesaspian commissined it in 72 AD. Martial arts deadly Gladiatoral combats and wild animal fights were staged free of cost by the Emperor for public viewing. The seating capacity is roughly fifty to sixty thousand spectators. Inside the Colosseum is the podium where the emperor and the wealthy upper class had their seats. The colosseum was built in the form of an ellipse with tiers seats around a vast central arena. The Ionic Doric and Corinthian columns add elegance to the structure. The seating arrangements were made in such a way that different social classes were segregated. A complex of rooms, passages and lifts lie under the arena. The winch brought the animal cages to the centre. Roman Emperors had a bestial streak in them because they entertained such barbaric fights.
 Pantheon the temple of gods became a Church in the middle ages. This magnificent and awe-inspiring relic became a symbol of Rome. The huge portico, which is rectangular consists of huge pillars and the threshold is wide enough to accommodate as many visitors. It’s a connossieur’s delight. The huge wall is covered with a hemisphereal doom, this is an architectural marvel. The beauty and its true scale can be appreciated from inside. The rotundas height and diameter are equal. There is a hole atop the doom which provides light. Emperor Hadrian was the brain behind the construction of the Pantheon. The tomb of Raphael and many other Kings of Italy are inside the Pantheon. As astonishing feature of the dome is that it was cast by pouring concrete mixed with tufa and pumice over temporary wooden frame work. The construction of the dome from hollow decorative caffers reduced its weight. The marble floor restored in 1873 preserves the original Roman design.
Spanish steps are one of the glories of the late Baroque Rome. Designed by the Italian architect Francescode Sanctis it combines straight sections, curves and terraces to create one of the city’s most dramatic and distinctive landmarks. It is a meeting place for artists and models. The beauty of the steps is enhanced by the placing of flower pots which are in full bloom during autumn. The steps are now a popular place to sit write postcards, to take photos and sit and stare at the passersby.
To be continued...
Usha Raja
|
