Roaming Around Rome

By Samm Carbone

The city of Rome is sure to leave a lasting impression on the people who visit. Standing in Rome was like standing with one foot in two separate worlds. At times you are surrounded by modernity, with designer shops, nice hotels, and museums, but just around any corner is a glimpse of the past in the form of archeological ruins, statues, and fountains, which will leave you in awe. This is especially true of the Colosseum. One second you are passing shops and following traffic signals on the busy streets, and then out of nowhere a four-story, fragmented, concrete amphitheater left by the Roman Empire is towering over you. 

The number of ruins that are preserved in the city of Rome is fascinating. With all the human and natural activity that has taken place since the eras these artifacts were made in; they still maintain so much detail and information. The entrances to some of the ancient Roman sites are located 20-30 ft down from the current street level and have had to be excavated to reveal what we see now. The build-up of material over these ancient ruins helps to visualize the scale of how much time has passed since the Roman Empire.

Despite all the time that has passed, the influence of the Roman Empire and the systems and architecture that were created are still widely seen in today’s modern world. Stories of gladiators in the Colosseum being recreated into movies for our entertainment and columns from buildings like the Roman Pantheon recognized in US government buildings are why it is important to preserve history as much as possible. It is through these culturally historical artifacts that we are able to understand where things in our everyday lives come from, and how they have influenced and guided people for thousands of years before us.

Roman Pantheon