The seven pontifical virtues are: Three theological virtues (concerning God): Faith (white), Hope (Green) and Charity (Red); Four cardinal virtues (related to the human soul and enunciated by Plato): fortitude, justice, prudence and temperance (moderation). Allegories are personifications of ideas, virtues and vices commonly used in the universal artistic language of painting and sculture
Category Archives: Rome
Forum of Peace
In 70-75 AD. at the end of the civil wars for the succession to the Empire and the bloody repression of the Jewish revolt, the Emperor Vespasian built a sanctuary dedicated to Peace called the Forum of Peace consisting of a large square with porticoes. The complex became part of the five Imperial Forums, theContinue reading “Forum of Peace”
The Square Colosseum of Rome
The building in the picture is commonly known by Romans as the ‘Square Colosseum’. The real name is ‘Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana’ and is located in the EUR neighborhood, a district with modern buildings recalling ancient monumentality. It was started by Italy’s dictator Benito Mussolini in the 1930s with the aim of hosting ‘Rome’s UniversalContinue reading “The Square Colosseum of Rome”
Pictures from The Vatican
With its 44 hectars (109 acres) surrounded by 5 kms of walls, The Vatican is the smallest country in the world, ruled by a king and a college of cardinals officially established as a state in 1929 following the signing of the Lateran Agreement between Benito Mussolini and Pope Pius XI which clarified the dispute raised after theContinue reading “Pictures from The Vatican”
Roman Carnival (Carnevale Romano)
The Roman Carnival has been one of the most colorful events in the history of the city. Possibly deriving from the pagan festivities of the Saturnalia that in roman times celebrated an ideal archaic period when the god Saturn ruled a world of equality and no trace of slavery was on Earth. The masquerades levelContinue reading “Roman Carnival (Carnevale Romano)”
The Vittoriano National Monument – (Il Vittoriano)
The Vittoriano National Monument was built to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Italian Unification (1861) and is also known as the Altar to Fatherland. Its construction started in 1885, was inaugurated in 1911 but was only completed in 1935 after 50 years of work. The Monument was designed by Giuseppe Sacconi and completed afterContinue reading “The Vittoriano National Monument – (Il Vittoriano)”
Tivoli: the dream of many
Tivoli is a very old settlement and, from its 235 meters above sea level, looks towards its historically rival city of Rome. The modern town has 60,000 inhabitants, is located 33 kms east of Rome and has the imperial eagle on his flag permitted by Frederick Redbeard in the XII century. Its citizens are proudContinue reading “Tivoli: the dream of many”
Brief history of the Colosseum
“When the Colosseum falls, Rome will fall; when Rome falls, the entire world will fall” Venerable Veda WAS THE COLOSSEUM THE FIRST AMPHITHEATER IN ROME?Absolutely not. With increasing importance and prestige, the gladiator games deserved a better location than the simple city squares, set up for the occasion with temporary stands. In 52 BC Curione,Continue reading “Brief history of the Colosseum”
Pontifical Foundry Marinelli
In Agnone, Abruzzo, the tradition of merging and forging the metals is 2500 years old. The area had been inhabited by the Samnites since the Bronze Age and later taken by the Romans by the 3rd century BC. During the Middle Age, probably due to the conventual nature of the rich and industrious city, itContinue reading “Pontifical Foundry Marinelli”
The Pantheon and its Archeoastronomy
My intention is that this sanctuary for all the Gods reproduce the similarity of the terrestrial globe and the spheres of the planets. The dome must reveal the sky through a large opening in the center, alternatively showing light and shadow Hadrian The first structure was built between 27 and 25 BC by Marco VipsanioContinue reading “The Pantheon and its Archeoastronomy”
The hidden frescoes in Ostia Antica
Ostia is the archaeological site in the world with the largest number of stone mosaics. However, not many people have a chance to see the ancient but still well preserved frescoes inside the houses in Ostia Antica, the oldest seaport of Rome, 20 kms south-west of the historic centre. Frescoes were produced by experienced and talentedContinue reading “The hidden frescoes in Ostia Antica”
Domus of Fortuna Annonaria in Ostia Antica
There’s many places where I love walking around in Ostia Antica and one of them is definitely the Domus of the Fortuna Annonaria (food fortune). Domus is a latin word meaning house and specifically referring to an aristocratic house. Modern words as domestic and dome come from this root. Even just this site is worth the tripContinue reading “Domus of Fortuna Annonaria in Ostia Antica”
Maurizio Rome Guide 