Will guffawed, his attention going to the Arch of Septimus Severus.“Ah, the arch celebrating the victory against the Parti,” he said.
“The Parti?”Barbara repeated.
“A sworn enemy of Rome.Septimus Severus and his sons, Caracalla and Geta, were the victors,” Will explained.“This arch marks the beginning of the rise of the Capitoline Hill and...”He pointed up to a ruin.“The Temple of Jove, where they would make a sacrifice to thank the gods.”
Randy was reading the inscription at the top of the arch, but he frowned suddenly.“There is no mention of Geta,” he said.“In fact, it appears his name was here but it’s been removed.Etched out.”
“That’s because Caracalla didn’t wish to share the imperial power when Septimus died,” David said, earning him a look of awe from Vittoria.“He ordered his brother’s name be removed from the arch as well as from all historical documents after he killed his brother.”
“No surprise there.Caracalla was one of the cruelest of all the emperors,” Will commented.He waved to the large building at the end of the Forum.“Now that building appears to be part ancient and part Middle Ages,” he said.
“The Tabularium,” Tom replied.“The base is made of peperino and travertine blocks, and it has vaulted corridors and arched windows.Above that is the Palazzo Senatorio where all the offices and records of the Senate were kept.”He read some more from the guidebook before adding, “Michelangelo remodeled it in the sixteenth century.”
The group continued on to the next visible ruin, the Temple of Saturn.Only the temple’s portico, entablature, and eight columns remained standing.Seated on a nearby marble block, Diana was continuing a sketch she had obviously started the last time she had been in the Forum.
Randy joined her, crossing his arms as he leaned against the block to watch her work.“Has anything changed?”he asked.
“The height of the weeds,” she replied, grinning.“I merely wished to draw the capitals.I didn’t have time to complete them when I was last here, nor did I have a chance to sketch the Temple of Castor and Pollux.”
David, Vittoria, and Armenia sauntered by, and when Vittoria overheard Diana, she said, “There are only the three columns left standing.”She pointed to the west.Beyond the rubble of the Julia Basilica, another ruined temple, the three Corinthian columns could be seen against the backdrop of the Colosseum.
“Castor and Pollux?”David said in confusion.“They were Greek gods.Wasn’t it against the Roman religious laws to have any temples of foreign gods inside the city walls?”
“Indeed,” Diana replied.“However, an exception was made because the temple was built after one of the first victories of the Romans over the Latins,” she explained.
The others in their group joined them, Tom still studying the guidebook and comparing what he was seeing against what was written.“It says here the Romans were so desperate, they invoked the gods, and the twins of Jove, Castor and Pollux, appeared on white horses and led the Romans to victory.At the very same time, they both appeared in Rome to announce the battle had been won.”
“That temple was so important, it’s said the Senate met there,” Vittoria added.“It included the office of...”Here she seemed to struggle for a translation.“Weights and measures.”
“But most importantly, it was where fathers gave their children their official names,” Diana said.She stood from the block and announced her drawing complete.Randy offered his arm and they headed to the area below the three columns.
The rest of the party followed, their steps slowing when it was apparent there was only one more artifact visible.The women were happy to take seats on some marble blocks to rest while Diana worked on her drawing.Meanwhile, the men admired the remains of palazzos on Palantine Hill.“We’ll have to tour those on another day,” Will commented to Tom.
“Agreed.I don’t know about you, but I am hungry.”
“You’re always hungry,” Will replied, giving his nephew a punch on the shoulder.
When Diana completed her sketch, the group gathered near the last remaining arch before reaching the Colosseum.
“The Arch of Constantine,” Will stated, his hand waving to the most imposing of all the triumphal arches in Rome.
Randy glanced up at the inscription.Although the original bronze letters were missing, the recesses left behind displayed the text so it was easy to read.“To the Emperor Caesar Flavius Constantine the Greatest, pious and fortunate, the Senate and People of Rome, because by divine inspiration and his own greatness of spirit, with his army and just force of arms, on both the tyrant and all of his faction at the same time, he avenged the State.We dedicate this arch decorated with triumphal insignia.”
“Who was the tyrant?”David asked.
“Maxentius at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge.Around three-hundred AD,” Diana replied.“As you can see, it’s completely covered with scenes exalting Constantine and depicting the more glorious episodes of the Roman Empire.”
“Well, I think Rome has conquered me,” Barbara said wearily.“I apologize, but I do think I’ve seen enough for one day.”
Murmurs of agreement had Donald waving to the coachmen.The equipage joined them near the base of the Colosseum, and they climbed into the coaches and barouche to head for Villa Montblanc and a late luncheon.
