Hotelrome.net Blog : A guide to news and events in Rome

My dear readers, as promised, here is our next appointment of full immersion into Ancient Roman life, and we will talk about famous roman feasts-Saturnals.

Let’s suppose you want to know when the fun is in Rome. Well you could have some good time nowadays but real fun was during Ancient Rome Period while celebrating what they used to call Saturnalia.

The Saturnalia was a festivity offered to the God…Saturn of course, and officially was celebrated on December 17 and, in Cicero’s time, lasted seven days, from December 17-23. Augustus limited the holiday to three days and Caligula extended it to five. Nevertheless , everyone continued to celebrate for a full week in practice because when fun begins is not easy to stop. Catullus describes it as "the best of days,"

Saturn was identified with Kronos. The Temple of Saturn, the oldest temple recorded by the pontiffs, had been dedicated on the Saturnalia were a sacrifice and banquet was performed. You can see today the columns remaining from that temple in the forums area.

During the holiday, all restrictions were relaxed and the social order almost inverted. So by that, gambling was allowed in public. Slaves were permitted to use dice and did not have to work! Instead of the toga, less formal dinner clothes were allowed. Slaves were treated as equals, permitted to wear their masters’ clothing, and be waited on at meal time.

Now hear what Lucian tell us about the party "During My week the serious is barred; no business allowed. Drinking, noise and games and dice, appointing of kings and feasting of slaves, singing naked, clapping of frenzied hands, an occasional ducking of corked faces in icy water—such are the functions over which I preside."

As you can imagine, the equality regarding to slaves treatment was only temporary ; and Petronius refers of an impudent slave being asked at some other time of the year whether it was December yet.

Saturnalia was an occasion for celebration, visits to friends, and the presentation of gifts, particularly wax candles (cerei), possibly to signify the returning light after the solstice.

If a time of relaxing and enjoy, the season also was at the same time an occasion for murder. Few examples: the Catiline conspirators intended to fire the city and kill the senate on the Saturnalia, when many would be preoccupied with the festivities. Commodus was strangled in his bath on New Year’s eve while Caracalla plotted to murder his brother. Just part of the Roman habits.

By the end of the first century AD, Statius proclaims: "For how many years shall this festival abide! Never shall age destroy so holy a day! While the hills of Latium remain and father Tiber, while thy Rome stands and the Capitol though has restored to the world, it shall continue" The Saturnalia continue to be celebrated as Brumalia (from the term bruma, winter solstice) reaching the Christian era, finally, by the middle of the fourth century AD, its rituals had become absorbed in the celebration of Christmas. Dear friends, pack your luggage and come to Rome to explore and learn and to PARTY!!! My suggestion for your stay in Rome is YES Hotel, located just near the station, and my suggestion to get a deeper knowledge about Saturnalia is a book of

Lindsey Davis- SATURNALIA!

So long, my dears, and to be continued…

Today, my devoted readers, I want to introduce you to a fascinating journey to the Ancient Rome, we had already a nice preface of Julius Ceasar’s death, and we will continue this odyssey to the mysteries and curiosities of ancient Roman life, and so you will be knowledgable enough to do tour guides for your loved ones when you visit Rome in future.

Today we will talk about the CALENDAR! And will learn how ancient romans organized their time and life!

In the past, calendars were cause of more than headache, my friends. In order to set up things occasionally some days were just scrapped by authorities.

For example, the pontiffs of Ancient Rome used to intercalated days to the calendar, but they made little mistakes, so that by the time of Julius Caesar, the calendar was… three months off.  Julius managed to solve , the trick was extend the year 46 BC to 445 days. So they made you 80 days younger for your next year birthday.

His reformed version of the calendar contained 12 months (instead of the original from the 7^th century B.C, ten months (March – December) and 304 days )with the present amount of days and a leap year.  Nevertheless, his calendar was 11 minutes longer than a true solar year. In honour of Julius Ceasar this calendar bears his name- Julian Calendar.

Let’s consider now the modern Gregorian calendar, which was developed by Pope Gregory XIII during 1582.  That year, ten days were simply scrapped from the calendar, and the Pope ordered three days should be omitted from the calendar every 400 years. So imagine, you are in 1582 and they just blow away your birthday. Should one celebrate or not?

The names we have for the months are another legacy from Ancient Rome’s culture, here it goes a description on the matter:

• January: Because of Janus, god of gates and doors.  On January first, Romans offered sacrifices to Janus so that he would bless the new year.
• February: Derived from Latin februa, signifying festivals of purification celebrated in Rome this month.  It was originally 29 days but one of those days was transferred to August.
• March:  The Roman war god Mars.
• April:  Latin, aperire, meaning to open, probably because it is the season during which buds start to open.
• June:  Uncertain.  It could be derived from the Latin goddess Juno, or the Junius clan of Ancient Rome.  The Latin juniores means "youth," and the month June may contrast the month May, which is   dedicated to maiores, or age.
• August: Named after emperor Augustus, due to many important events in his life happening in this month. 
• September – December:  The Latin septem, octem, novem, decem, meaning seven, eight, nine, and ten, in reference to the number of each month in the year.  June was originally Quintilus (five) and August sextus (six).

At the beginning, there was no seven day period, or except in the east, where some days were named as the planets.  The first reference to a seven day week is found during the reign of Augustus. Gradually would be extended throughout the empire.  The days were as follows:  Dies Lunae (Monday), Dies Martis (Tuesday), Dies Mercuri (Wednesday), Dies Jovis (Thursday), Dies Veneris (Friday), Dies Saturnae (Saturday), and Dies Solis (Sunday).

Feriae (dies ferialis) were called the holidays for visiting temples and perform rituals and sacrifices to the gods.  The term was used also for birthdays.

Originally "feast days," on holidays the local aristocracy would pay for meals for the poor. A quite funny celebration was The Saturnalia, held in December during the winter solstice.  Celebrating the festival, masters and slaves would trade places, gifts were exchanged, and business activities suspended. 

To be continued, my curious ones…

Imagine for a second of living in Roman Empire, more or less 2000 years ago…

One day you hear: Ceasar is dead!!! Ceasar is dead!!! Ceasar is dead!!! What a scoop would it be for today’s journalists…

It is the year 44 B. C, when the Dictator was assassinated in the very senate after declaring him self dictator for life (one month before, so no that long).

How does he find this tragic end? Let’s take a look at the situation : 

In January of 49 BC, He led his army across the Rubicon River in Northern Italy and turns the Roman Republic into civil war. Caesar’s rival, Pompey, runaway to Greece seeing things become complicated. In only three months the old Julius controlled the entire Italian peninsula and in Spain had defeated the legions of Mr. Pompey. Take that.

Julius was not happy yet, so now pursued Pompey to Greece. Caesar crushed the forces of his enemy so Pompey escaped to Egypt . Finally, following Pompey to Egypt and defeated him for the last time. Julius established the beautiful and famous Cleopatra as his delegated ruler of Egypt.

He defeated other rivals in North Africa in 47 BC and came back to Rome with his authority ‘‘firmly established’’.

Sounds like a happy end until here. But happy for who?

In order to consolidate his power in February 44 BC, he declared himself dictator for life. This act, turned many in the Senate against him. Sixty members of the Senate concluded that the only solution to the problem was …to kill Caesar.

So how to do it? You cannot just call Uma Thurman with her yellow suit and sword, she was not born yet. Anyway we are sure of the fact that Mr. Tarantino could have given interesting ideas.

About ideas Nicolaus of Damascus, a friend of Herod the Great (remember the bible?) gathered some information asking here and there, here are some ‘’proposals’’ at that time:

1) ‘’Some suggested that they should make the attempt as he was going along the Sacred Way, which was one of his favorite walks ‘’.

2) ‘’Another idea was for it to be done at the elections during which he bad to cross a bridge to appoint the magistrates in the Campus Martius; they should draw lots for some to push him from the bridge and for others to run up and kill him.’’

3) ‘’A third plan was to wait for a coming gladiatorial show. The advantage of that would be that, because of the show, no suspicion would be aroused if arms were seen prepared for the attempt.’’

4) ‘’Killing him while he sat in the Senate, where he would be by himself since non-Senators would not be admitted, and where the many conspirators could hide their daggers beneath their togas.’’ Smashing! Someone said and that won the major opinion.

When they saw him entering, the senate rose in respect. Next to him Tillius Cimber, approached under the pretext of a request for his exiled brother and grasped his mantel. This was the beginning, those who were part in the plan were near Julius. Suddenly, all unsheathed their daggers. Caesar was stabbed by: First Servilius Casca, his brother, Cassius, Decimus Brutus, Minucius, Cassius Longinus missed and hurt Marcus Brutus (it happens).

So the lesson of the day is ‘’Think twice before become a dictator for life’’ or ‘’Power has its drawbacks’’. Stay cool. See you around.

Your friend Big- mouth-knows-all-about-it,

Piazza Navona is one of the most famous and beautiful of the many other Roman squares.
It is build like such in 16-th century.
Before that on its place has stayed the stadium of Domitian,built by emperor Domitian in 86 AD.
It used to hold up to 30 thousand spectators. Also it is known that it had larger arena than the Colosseum.
The stadium was used for festivals and sporting events. It is known also as Circus Agonalis.
In the 15-th century the stadium was paved over to form the Navona square.
Even today there are still visible some remnants of Domitian’s stadium.

There 3 magnificent fountains at the square and also the baroque style church of S. Agnese.
One of the fountain is made by the great architect and sculptor Bernini between 1648 and 1651.
It is called the Fountain of the Four Rivers (Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi) and is in the center of the square. It is like huge rock coming out of the water.

Another fountain is Fontana del Nettuno. It is created by Giacomo Della Porta around 1576.
It is situated on the north side of the square, exactly opposite of the third fountain: Fontana del Moro which is on the south side.

Today Piazza Navona is a beautiful popular place where people go out for a walk or to visit some of the best restaurants and coffee places and enjoy the view created so many years ago by some of the best artists.

If you take a little walk in Rome you’ll notice her immediately. She’s everywhere: in the logo of the soccer team of the city and almost on every public object or document you see.
Of course I’m talking about the Capitoline she-wolf from the Capitoline Museums with which I assume you’re familiar, at least visually and for which you can get more about your Rome city tour information .

If the romans seem to be so fond of this bronze sculpture is because it tells the story of the city. Legend has it that King Numitor was overthrown by his brother Amulius who ordered the two grandsons of Numitor to be thrown into the Tiber so they won’t live to take revenge on him. But sadly for the traitor the twins (whose names are Romulus and Remus, in case you haven’t figured it out) were cared by a she-wolf who suckled them until a shepherd found them and raise them allowing the brothers to give back the throne to his grandfather and to found the Eternal City. (If you want to get the complete picture Romulus and Remus wound up fighting- and I mean serious fighting. Romulus killed his brother and gave his name to the city becoming also its first king.)

logo of the AS Roma soccer team

Even if the sculpture seems to be the perfect representation of the foundation of the city, originally the she-wolf was alone. Sometime during the renaissance the twins were added to the sculpture, that by the way was believed to be an Etruscan masterpiece until a couple of months ago when an Italian specialist discovered that the wolf is actually much younger, having been created during the High Middle Ages.

Just for the sake of the trivia you must know also that there are two replicas of the she-wolf in the United States, one in Cincinnati and the other one in Rome, Georgia, a gift, in Mussolini’s words, “from ancient Rome to new Rome.�

The she-wolf is hosted in the Capitoline Museums, Piazza del Campidoglio 1. To get there is very easy if you are a guest of Hotel Des Artistes or Yes Hotel: go to Termini and take there the bus 170 for six stops. The museums are open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9:00 AM to 20:00 PM.

Did you know that Rome has quite a number of Egyptian obelisks? There are 13 of them still to be admired, and yet another one is rumoured to have existed, now lost somewhere under the modern city close to the church of San Luigi dei Francesi.

The one to start the “trend� was the emperor Augustus who imported two obelisks directly from Egypt. After him, the emperor Caligula erected another one near the Circo Vaticano, and then placed other five of them in surroundings of the temple he had built in honor of the Egyptian divinities Isis and Seraphis. Later, many other emperors followed their example up to the 4th century AD.

The highest of these monuments is the obelisk raised by Constantius in AD 357: it’s 32,18 meters tall, and ancient Egyptian work, produced as early as the 15th century BC. It was originally placed in the Circo Massimo race-stadium, but has later been moved next to the basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano.

Even though the Roman obelisks were imported from Egypt, in Rome they were of course not considered as symbols of the Egyptian god of the sun, Atum-Ra, but simply as monuments in honor of the Roman empire.

Where can these ancient works of art be admired today? There is one in the center of the Navona Square, attached to the famous fountain of Bernini. This one is actually just an imitation of the Egyptian obelisks, made in Rome in the 1st century AD. Another, more ancient one, is positioned close by, in front of the Pantheon, this one produced in Egypt in the 8th century BC. Both of these two have at some point adorned the temple of Isis, and then subsequently moved.

Just a stone’s throw from the Pantheon, in the Piazza della Minerva, you can see a small Egyptian obelisk just 5,47 meters tall, refound in the 17th century and then erected by the Pope Alexander VII in this position. The obelisk stands on the bnack of a granite elephant sculpted by Bernini!

In the nearby Piazza Montecitorio, in front of the Parliament, is located a big, 6th century Egyptian obelisk imported by Augustus in 10 BC and at the time used to form a part of an enormous clock. Not far from there is the obelisk located in the upper end of the Spanish steps, in front of the church of Trinità dei Monti.

All of these are within a short walk from each other in the historical center. Yet another one is to be found on Piazza del Popolo, by the metro line A stop Flaminio, and of course the highest one of all the survived obelisks is located at San Giovanni, this as well to be reached with the metro A (stop San Giovanni).

To be centrally and conveniently located for your sightseeing, try booking the Nice Hotel or the three star My Hotel, both in the Termini station area, easily connected with all the main monuments of the city.