Monday, June 21, 2010

S·P·Q·R

{Arch of Septimius Severus}



This carved travertine marble masterpiece is one of Rome's many triumphal arches. It was erected in the year 203 in the Forum to celebrate the victories of emperor Septimius Severus and his sons Caracalla and Geta in the wars against the Parthians and the Osroeni in 195-197.

For an interesting and detailed description of this beautiful monument and its inscriptions, Click Here




{Senatus Populus Que Romanus
Incendio Consumptum Restituvit}




Gradual deterioration since the 4th century BC has left nothing but the Temple of Saturn's eight surviving portico columns and partially intact pediment, which displays the inscription, "The Senate and People of Rome restored what fire had consumed." 



Sometimes we Romans forget what it means to live here. What it feels like to walk on roads paved thousands of years ago, and touch the same sun-warmed marble that Emperors touched.


We are so fortunate.






13 comments:

  1. I love these photos. It is an amazing place. In Minneapolis, we have a painting of this arch. Notice how the erosion from the hill has filled in the Forum in this painting, almost blocking the arches: http://www.artsmia.org/viewer/detail.php?v=12&id=1624

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  2. You are indeed so very fortunate to live in such a historic place. I love Italy and wish I could travel there again. I love your photos, made even more interesting with the history/information that you include -- they're the next best thing to being there. Thank you for sharing your magnificent city.

    Sylvia

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  3. Thank you so much for your beautiful photos, and the information you've supplied as well. I hope to make it to Rome in the near future. My first trip abroad was to Greece, and when I returned home to the U.S. what I missed most was being surrounded by all that glorious ancient architecture/history. I believe it has a profound effect on how people view the world.

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  4. wonderful that it still stands. wonderful photos.

    paz

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  5. Love the history you show us with your beautiful photographs of Rome Eleonora.
    Costas

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  6. It's hard for me to imagine since we have nothing that old here! Beautiful photographs.

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  7. Septimius Severus and his sons Caracalla and Geta. Sounds like music to me.

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  8. Wow unbelievable arch! These photos are just stunning. I know what you mean about sometimes forgetting the exquisite beauty. It's actually one of the reasons I started the Monterey blog -- to remember to notice!

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  9. When I took Latin in high school in The Bronx, we varied these initials to SPQB, for the imaginary Senate and the People of the Bronx (assuming the declension was Bronx, Brongis, etc.). The main fact I retain from Latin class is that you can sing all 28,000 lines of Virgil's Aeneid to the tune of The Stars And Stripes Forever and it all scans. I can still manage the first four.

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  10. No other letter form has ever equalled the grace and beauty of Roman Capitals. Very nice presentation, Eleonora.

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  11. Roma and its ancient treasures never fail to enchant me...

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Thank you for visiting Roma Every Day. Your feedback is always hugely appreciated, though it is no longer possible for me to reply individually to your comments in the post thread.

For any questions, please feel free to send me an email.

Grazie!
~Eleonora

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