The Magic of Rome [antikvár]

Almost three thousand years. It is not eternity but only one step away from it. Such a complex history that sometimes it seerns it bears evident traces of somé superior planning and, at the same time, it is so confused that it appears, almost always, the product of the most blind paradox or casuality. Almost three thousand years in a monumental dimension: as if seen through a deforming lens which mixed both heroic and cowardly deeds, and reduced absolute and vile values such as Greatness and Stupidity to the same level. The assumption that the vicissitudes of the city were tightly interwoven with the destiny of the world has been both a profound belief and a feeling in ineluctability; a proud force, as weil as a heavy penalty. After almost three thousand years the difficult coexistence of present reality with so many memories of the past has become evident as they constitute a continual reminder of what could be accomplished. Almost three thousand years. Not eternity, but probably too many for anybody, even for Rome. The birth of Rome in 753 B.C. is a conventional record, established by Varró on the ground of a very old tradition but which has alsó been accepted by today's archaeologists. The first nucleus of the city was founded between the Palatine and the Quirinale Hills whilst its first Forum, both a meeting place and a markét, was in the small valley between the two hills. During the First two hundred and fifty years, the age of the Seven kings, was defined the political and the military structure of the state. With the last three monarchs Rome feli un der the Etruscan rule which made the city prosper, especially from the cuítural point of wiew. The city had expanded its borders on to the other five hills surrounding the First two on which it had been founded. The Principal Sewer was built and the marshy area around the Forum was totally reclaimed. The year 509 B.C. markecl the beginning of the Republican Era when a democratic system of government was created, based on the continual endeavour to balance the power of the Senators with that of the citizens; at the same time the city was growing haphazardly with the building of areas lacking either local or more generál planning scheme. The Romans showed versatile and ingenious capacities when coping with practical problems of all sorts; from the channeling of fresh water or liquid sewage; to the building of city walls; war structures and military encampments. In the First centuries of the life of the city, building was considered of the first importance, over and above any artistic consideration. Towards the end of the Republic, the aesthetic values assimilated by the conquest of Greece, became part of the cuítural patrimony of Rome and it was then that the already recognized building techniques began to be used for the embellishment of the city: the concept of architecture, as opposed to simply building, was born. In 390 B.C., the Gauls, the First barbarians to invade Italy, reached Rome. Brennus, her First great adversary, set the city to Fire and was threatening to reduce her to slavery when he was defeated by the Román generál Furius Camillus. This is only one of the many crucial moments of which the history of Rome is so rich: when the decision of only one person changed the entire course of events. After the Fire, somé wanted to abandon the Seven Hills in order to build a new city near Veii, but eventually the decision not to leave the originary site prevailed. One wonders what such a removal, and of so few kilometers, might have meant to the Wheel of time! After the Fire instigated by Brennus, it was decided to build the Colossal Walls, the so-called "Servian walls", the construction of which went on for over a century and a half. Fifteen gates were built along its perimeter of Fifteen kilometers. After nearly missing totál collapse and practically encouraged by this second rebirth, Rome extended its influence by means of incessant military