Post 1 for Jun 3

Wednesday Jun 3 Post.

Today we did many things, again. First, we went to the Capitoline Museum to see all the reliefs of people, statues of people and painting s of events as well. We first had a discussion with Lisa about Moments in Rome and what we thought about them when we look at them? For example what was our reaction to what we see when we see the monuments compared to what we read in books from back home that tell what the monuments look like? I think that was the way she said the question. My answer, I did not know how to answer at first but I think it depends on what the sources we read that describe what the monuments were like in their perspective. The key phrase there I think is there perspective, some may catch lots of details that are on a monument while we could walk by and see another detail on it that they did not describe in their texts about it. Many others had some responses to that question that had different perspectives. It was a good first group conversation for us.

We then went into the Museum to look at the artifacts. We first walked into the main courtyard and saw a statue of Emperor Constantine, parts of a statue of him actually. I believe that the reason why they saved him is because one he was a famous emperor and he was a pro Christian and adopted it then made it be the religion of the Roman people.

Then we walked around some more and found some Marcus Aurelius Reliefs/Pictures of him doing some important events. Such as him showing mercy to some people that the Romans defeated in a battle. I believe it was the Carthaginians, but it I am not sure. Then there were others of him doing good things during his reign.

Then we went exploring on our own and we found this hall of Jewels that were very tiny. Then we saw several statues of different Emperors, Mythological Gods, and some statues of some Popes. These were probably taken from excavations or some gardens in Rome. I think they were private gardens of the Emperors themselves and then possibly some very wealthy individuals too. The Pope statues were probably in public buildings of some sort, they don't look very weathered, they could have been in really big churches in Rome and then decided to move them.

We were asked to identify what our favorite artifact is, I would have to say the Marcus Aurelius reliefs, they sparked an interest for me because I know a little bit about him and that the images on the stone reliefs make him look like a great guy, I think.

First picture is of the reliefs, then the second one was of parts of a tunnel connecting to Palazzo, then the third one is of the wolf nursing the twins who started Rome, Romulus and Remus. 

Then here is a few more from the museum.