SPQR Fellowship

As our group enters Rome, I finally enter the blog-o-sphere.  Up until now the rest of our group has been providing an excellent and lively account of our journey through Italy and I have focused on taking photos and preparing them for the blogs. I’ve followed each entry closely and offered my input when needed but I must thank the rest of my group who not only have had a great recall of each day, but the speed and precision to deliver an account of our travels in a timely manner. In other words… I’m slow.  Thankfully, Jenna is here to help cover up my weaknesses. As she has already provided you with a great round-up of today’s events, I will try give you a few of my thoughts as I enter Rome for the second time.

I have been thinking a lot about the power of Rome. As we walked around the city today I was very aware of all the other tourists sharing the city. I could not help but wonder what keeps us all coming to this city, participating in the great event that is Rome. What interest do non architect’s have in all the historical buildings here? Is it the same interest that draws me to the art that I have little or no knowledge of?  Certainly there is a great deal of grandeur and beauty here but as I watched some people quickly pass by buildings and artworks that held others in complete awe I began to understand that within Rome there is a more far reaching draw. It seems that people come to Rome to participate in the idea that is Rome – to participate in something that is bigger than themselves. An idea that created new forms of governance, buildings more articulate and grand in scale than imaginable, and artwork that transcends language. In other places these ideas may have been considered “mad” and quickly dismissed. In Rome, they became a reality that has lasted thousands of years and affected most of western culture. I look forward to our short time here and the chance to let a little of that “madness” into my thinking.