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Colosseum and the Forum
Today, a few classmates and I decided to go on a field trip of our own. We bought passes for 11 Euros that allowed us entry into the Colosseum, the Forum and the Palatine (we didn't get to the Palatine.) However, we began our field trip by going into the Colosseum. My guidebook states that the Colosseum was built as an ampitheater that was used to host gladiator battles and animal fights. It could hold over 50,000 people! However, 
most of the Colosseum has slowly decayed because the interior (including the seats, awning and floor) were made out of materials like limestone or wood that didn't stand the test of time. However, in the Colosseum, a reconstruction of what the floor would look like has been built. It is interesting to see how all of the chambers underneath the floor were like a intricate maze that could hold anything from animals, trees or even people. They were able to be raised and lowered from the floor
by a system of pulleys. We also decided to go to the Forum. My guidebook says that this was the center of political, judicial and commercial life in ancient Rome. We saw many amazing things such as the Temple of Julius Caesar. The guidebook says that this was erected in memory of Caesar on the spot where his body was cremated after his assassination. We also were able to see the Temple of the Vestal Virgins where priestesses of the Temple of Vesta lived. It was a very peaceful place with some sculptures still intact and a pond with lily pads and frogs in it. The thing that 
I was most excited about seeing was the Rostra which is where speeches were given to the Forum. It was amazing to see the remnants of a structure where so many public speeches were given. As a Communication Arts & Sciences major, this is a very important place for me. Public speaking was basically born here. The art of persuasion had to have been used in all of these speeches so that the people were able to convince others of making changes in ancient Rome. The history of this place is amazing to me and I'm glad that I was able to experience it.
Today, a few classmates and I decided to go on a field trip of our own. We bought passes for 11 Euros that allowed us entry into the Colosseum, the Forum and the Palatine (we didn't get to the Palatine.) However, we began our field trip by going into the Colosseum. My guidebook states that the Colosseum was built as an ampitheater that was used to host gladiator battles and animal fights. It could hold over 50,000 people! However, 
most of the Colosseum has slowly decayed because the interior (including the seats, awning and floor) were made out of materials like limestone or wood that didn't stand the test of time. However, in the Colosseum, a reconstruction of what the floor would look like has been built. It is interesting to see how all of the chambers underneath the floor were like a intricate maze that could hold anything from animals, trees or even people. They were able to be raised and lowered from the floor
by a system of pulleys. We also decided to go to the Forum. My guidebook says that this was the center of political, judicial and commercial life in ancient Rome. We saw many amazing things such as the Temple of Julius Caesar. The guidebook says that this was erected in memory of Caesar on the spot where his body was cremated after his assassination. We also were able to see the Temple of the Vestal Virgins where priestesses of the Temple of Vesta lived. It was a very peaceful place with some sculptures still intact and a pond with lily pads and frogs in it. The thing that 
I was most excited about seeing was the Rostra which is where speeches were given to the Forum. It was amazing to see the remnants of a structure where so many public speeches were given. As a Communication Arts & Sciences major, this is a very important place for me. Public speaking was basically born here. The art of persuasion had to have been used in all of these speeches so that the people were able to convince others of making changes in ancient Rome. The history of this place is amazing to me and I'm glad that I was able to experience it.
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