On our last night in Italy, we went to visit a few sights we had not yet seen. First of them was the Pantheon. It was built originally by Marcus Agrippa, Augustus' right hand man, as you can see from the inscription on the front (M(arcus) Agrippa L(uci) F(ilius) Co(n)s(ul) Tertium Fecit: Marcus Agrippa, son of Lucius, consul for the third time, made this). It was restored beginning during the reign of Trajan over a hundred years later. The Pantheon is one of the wonders of the world.
What makes it a wonder? This. This is a dome made of unreinforced concrete that has stood for nearly 2,000 years in an area prone to earthquakes--sometimes major ones. Roman concrete is one of the great secrets that was lost with the fall of the empire in the west. The secret ingredient is something called pozzolanic ash. This volcanic ash was found near Pozzuoli and had several unique properties. One of the benefits of using volcanic ash instead of sand is it forms stronger mineral bonds with the limestone used in making concrete. Another benefit is that it reacts chemically to water, making it hydraulic concrete--concrete that will set underwater. The last benefit is that it takes less energy to make Roman concrete than it does to make modern concrete--it's more environmentally friendly. Modern concrete is designed to last roughly 120 years. Roman concrete can last millenia, as we see.
The reason the Pantheon survived is it was re-purposed as a christian church early on. The pagan gods were removed and christian symbols added.
Here is our intrepid group, including long lost schoolmate Nicolai Yudin. Nicolai, the founder of the Avon Old Farms chapter of the BFRO (Bigfoot Research Organization), has spent the last two years searching for the Yeren, the Chinese name for Sasquatch and the Woodwose, Sasquatch's European cousin.
After leaving the Pantheon we walked to the Largo di Torre Argentina, a square that was excavated in the 1920's by Mussolini. The square hold the remains of four temples and one can see the back side of the Theater of Pompey. The columns shown in this picture are of the Temple of Fortuna.
This is the Temple of Juturna. Juturna was mentioned a couple of days ago. She was goddess of a spring and Vergil wrote that she was the sister of Turnus, the main antagonist for Aeneas when he landed in Italy. Behind the temples are the back walls of the Theater of Pompey. Pompeius Magnus or Pompey the Great, built the first permanent theater structure in Rome. The theater complex included a shaded portico and a meeting house for the Senate. It was in this meeting house that Caesar was assassinated on the Ides of March--March 15: tomorrow!
We then encountered the Fountain of the Turtles. This fountain was originally designed by Giacomo della Porta, the artist who finished many of Michelangelo's works. It was later altered slightly by Bernini, who added the turtles.
Our last archaeologic sighting was of the Theater of Marcellus. Augustus built this theater in honor of his nephew Marcus Claudius Marcellus. Marcellus was married to Augustus' daughter Julia and Augustus intended him to be heir to the throne. Unfortunately, Marcellus died young at the age of 19.
Our last dinner was at La Taverna degli Amici in Piazza Margana. A great meal is a wonderful way to end a marvelous trip. The crew headed back afterwards to prepare for an early morning wake up call and the trip to Fiumicino Airport.
Arrivederci Roma! Alla prossima!
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