Ciao, greetings to family and friends at home. We students are glad to say that we have finally arrived in the heart of the Eternal city, otherwise known as Rome. Today, the group took a short walk from our lovely hotel to the epicenter of Roman art and culture: the Colosseum. The Colosseum was built in 70 A.D. under the Emperor Vespasian and was used a social-gathering place that highlighted the patronage system in the the Roman empire, as the emperors of the Roman empire would use the games hosted at the Colosseum, such as the famous gladiator games and games between humans and animals, to illustrate the power of the Roman empire to the citizens of Rome and to enemies abroad. This class of Elon students participating in the Italy travel seminar were particularly lucky as they were able to go underneath the Colosseum to see where the prisoners and animals were kept before they competed in the games, a sight not seen by Elon students, or the general public in many years. Overall, the group today was absolutely ecstatic to take part of this moment in history and see the magnificent and colossal Colosseum, which is truly a great wonder of the world.
The second item on today's agenda was to see the great Roman Forum, the main one located right beside the Colosseum, which was basically the center of Roman public and social life in the city. The whole Roman Forum museum is a collection of ancient ruins of social and political significance that were built throughout the Roman empire with additions added during the medieval period. Some of the most popular attractions seen by the group today were the Basilica Maxentius commissioned by Emperor Constantine, the courtyard of the Vestal Virgins, a series of impressive grand Roman arches, and the Senate house. I can speak for the group when I say that the Roman Forum was absolutely beautiful and expansive as it seemed to go on for miles. It is safe to say that everyone immensely enjoyed their time at the Roman Forum.
The third place visited by the group today before we let out for lunch in the streets of Rome, was the Altar to the Fatherland, which is a memorial celebrating the unification of Italy in 1861 under the rule of King Victor Emmanuel II, which is a beautiful and grand monument to the great former King of Italy. Notably included in the monument was a memorial to a tomb of an unknown soldier who participated in World War I similar to the one in Washington D.C. back home in America.
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