Daily Updates
Week Four: 12 October
12 October. Charles Runckel Reporting:
After yesterday's trials with Italian Immigration, we were relieved to spend the morning at the Capitoline museum, a 16th century pair of buildings overlooking the Forum that bears the title of oldest museum in Europe. Meeting under the replica of a mounted Marcus Aurelius, we began with a marathon of oral presentations during which half the group spoke on the various Imperial busts from the Capitoline's collection. Starting with a portrait of the deranged Nero, we watched Roman sculpture and fashion evolve from Flavian excess through the intimidating busts of Caracalla. Our presenters alternated between artistic technique and the colorful histories of the Roman emperors, giving us a taste of what we will be studying upon our return from Sicily and Pompeii. While we were finished with Imperial portraiture, the Capitoline possesses a collection to match its historically rich location and as we were not scheduled to return on the FSP, we took the opportunity to see some of the more famous and impressive artifacts. After a short lunch break, we met before the massive statue of Constantine and walked over to the victory friezes of Marcus Aurelius that would have been the pride of any other museum, but here decorated the staircase. The highlight was the Capitoline she-wolf, a well known bronze statue from the 6th century BC, suckling the infants Romulus and Remus. The mythical image is still a symbol for both Rome and classical archaeologists and is worn, in pin form, by Professor Ulrich regularly. We ended our trip at the Tabularium, a building that once stored the official records of the Republic but was used to store salt afterwards, leading to extensive damage that only allowed the building to reopen five years ago. It now holds pieces of Roman temples and offers a great view of the Forum.
Clare and her Commodus
The meanest emperor on the block, presented by Ben
The group enjoys the Capitoline's extensive collection
The famous she-wolf with chubby Renaissance Romulus and Remus
A view of the Forum from the Tabularium
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