Rome - Day 5

Today we were very thankful for a beautiful day! We got to sleep in and had a great breakfast with a sunny view on the rooftop. Then we took a stroll in Villa Borghese, a large park filled with many pedestrians, dogs, and bicyclers on this gorgeous Sunday.
This park contains the famous Galleria Borghese which we toured in the afternoon. It it one of the top museums in Rome, with works of Bernini, Caravaggio, Raphael, Antonio Canova, and Rubens. (I now have names in my vocabulary that I have have not had before.) These works are housed in the Cardinal Scipione Borghese mansion built in 1613.

Galleria Borghese

After the Galleria, we decided to return to the Colosseum and Roman Forum since it was such a nice sunny day. Today was a national holiday for the Italians - Republic Day, in which they celebrate becoming a nation.

Arch of Constantine and Colosseum

The Arch of Constantine was erected to cite the decisive victories of Emperor Constantine in AD 312.  It marks the beginning of the era in Roman and world history when Constantine became sole emperor and legalized Christianity within the empire by the Edict of Milan in AD 313.  (Interestingly, this edict legalized all religions in Rome, not just Christianity.)

Arch of Septimus Severus

     This six-story high structure, located in the Roman Forum,  commemorated the Mesopotamian battles and conquests of this African-born emperor in AD 203.

Arch on left, Temple on right

Next to the Arch of Septimus Severus is the remains of the Temple of Saturn.  The entrance to the temple was framed by the 6 pillars that remain standing to this day.  this is the oldest temple remains in the Forum, dating back to 497 BC.

Mamertine Prison bult in BC 640

This is the prison where it is believed that the Apostle Paul spent the last years of his life before he was martyred. From this dank, dark prison, he penned the intimate letters to young Timothy.
2  Timothy 2:8-9 "Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the Word of God is not bound."

The Via Sacra, the main street of the Roman Forum.
These stones were the actual, original stones that formed
this road and all roads in the ancient road system.
Walking on these stones 2,000 years ago were Julius Caesar and
other senators, conquering generals leading their armies,
prisoners, and spoils of war in triumphant parades...
AND NOW US!
It's hard to imagine that horses and carts rode on these stones,
for they are uneven and even hard to walk on.

Another Nasone

How to drink from a nasone

This has been a great 5 days in the beautiful city of Rome. It has been very interesting navigating the streets, riding the crowded metro, walking miles through the city, listening, watching, and mingling with people from all over the world , and seeing the ancient sights and masterpieces of old.
     Yet we are reminded that the greatest Master of All can takes a worthless, flawed piece of clay and mold and shape it, creating a righteous work of art through the finished work of the risen Christ. While these structures are colossal and incredible, they, like all things, have crumbled and decayed and will some day be reduced to dust. But this one thing remains -the hope we have in a loving, faithful God who is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

On that note,

Buona notte

PS:  This was a 2 (large) gelati day!