Today is the 2775 Birthday of the founding of Rome by Romulus and Remus.
The founding of Rome is an official birthday in Italy.
The legend of the founding of the Rome tells the story of Romulus and Remus, two brothers who founded a settlement on the banks of the Tiber river after being raised by a she-wolf in the nearby countryside.
They could not agree exactly where to build, and ended up fighting in what is now the Circus Maximus . Romulus won the fight, killed his brother and named the city after himself, as well as becoming Rome’s first king. Rome then was nothing more than a village with about 100 people.
As Rome grew and grew, eventually becoming a vast, sprawling empire, the story of Romulus and Remus, the she-wolf and the fight to establish the city continued to be told.
The second Birthday is that of Her Majesty Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada in the 70th year of Her Reign. HM is 96 years old today. Only two other Sovereigns had long reigns King George III (60 years) and Queen Victoria (64 years).
The Ides of March was the 74th day in the Roman calendar, determined by the full moon, and corresponded to 15 March.
It was traditionally marked by several religious observances and festivals and was also used by Romans as a landmark deadline for settling debts.
The Ides of March 1939 was the day Nazi Germany Marched into Prague. Today Russian troops are at the doors of Kyiv.
Immensely popular with the people in Rome, Caesar was a successful military leader who expanded the republic to include parts of what are now Spain, France, Germany, Switzerland and Belgium.
Caesar, who had seized power from the Roman Republic and declared himself a dictator for life, was killed by a group of 60 conspirators led by his senator friends, Brutus and Cassius
The assassination took place during a meeting of the senate in the Curia Pompeia, within the larger Pompey’s Theatre complex in Rome’s Torre Argentina archaeological area.
According to legend, a soothsayer had warned Caesar of his impending murder, immortalised by William Shakespeare with the ominous phrase “Beware the Ides of March” from his play Julius Caesar.
Caesar was said to have been stabbed 23 times, his body was cremated in the Roman Forum. The site is marked by the remains of the Temple of the Divine Julius, an altar located to the eastern side of the central Forum area, where people to this day leave flowers in his memory.
Caesar’s assassination would result in a long series of civil wars that ended in the demise of the Roman Republic and the birth of the Roman Empire.
Eventually it led to the rise of his nephew and adopted heir Octavian, later known as Augustus, who became the first emperor of Rome in 27 BC. It also saw the deification of Caesar 14 months after his murder.
The Death of Julius Caesar (1806) by Vincenzo Camuccini.
Living in Rome means that you will everyday see some type of work on very ancient buildings or monuments from the Republican period before 50 BC to Imperial Roman period up to 400 AD. Archeology is a huge business in Rome and employs scholars from around the world. Romans are very attentive to their past and guard it carefully. The reason why the construction of Line C of the metro of Rome is 20 years behind schedule is because of historical discovery and extensive archeological work. While living in Rome we were fortunate to visit sites that reopened after being closed for 50 years for extensive research and study work. The private house of Augustus on the Palatine and next door the house of his wife Livia is one example, I would call them austere and simple, not Hollywood palaces. The Domus Aurea of Nero reopened just last year, it was and had been closed for decades while we lived in Rome. Also we were able to visit exhibits of rare artifacts very rarely seen in public. One such exhibit was on the Secret Library and Archives of the Vatican. The secret is that there are no secrets, what we did see though was fascinating, the Vatican keeps every piece of paper, every document on any topic. All carefully catalogue and preserved, correspondence between the Holy See and Princes or Kings. Books of all kinds, official decrees, even pornography from ancient times. Why keep it all? Well because then you can use it to support your point of view and show what was said or done. There is or was an element of vanity in all this, to show how the Holy See communicated with the powerful of this world. Who could then deny that the Pope was not important or did not have authority to influence the course of history. What mere mortals think would be sinful or forbidden is kept, why? Well maybe to show that human nature does not change, there is a certain moral story about it all. Some of the Official documents when you read them shed a different perspective on history. Letters often have a personal and intimate tone, despite the fact that they are official documents.
Then comes the monuments and various buildings of Rome, starting with the huts of Romulus, the ruins of the Temple of the Sybil or that of the Furies in Trastevere which was a cursed site, how about the Gate of Hell with its staircase in the Forum next to the Arch of Septimus Severus.
One such ancient monument is the Mausoleum of Augustus, the first Emperor. He was know as Octavian and was the nephew and adopted son of Julius Cesar. He was proclaimed Imperator and August by the Senate of Rome. His legacy to the Western World is important on many different levels. His ruined Mausoleum in Rome survives to this day and has undergone studies and renovations since 1933. Since 2000 even more in depth study of the structure has been undertaken and the amount of information on this monument is impressive.
Photo from the 1970’s before the latest round of study were undertaken. On the far left of the photo we can see the Ara Pacis (Altar of Peace) dedicated to Augustus, his life’s work and his family. The Ara Pacis is very well preserved and wonderful to visit.This is what the Mausoleum of Augustus looked like in antiquity. Several members of his family had their ashes interred here. The round tomb concept recalls the ancient Etruscans whose mausoleum can be seen just outside of Rome.
Tuesday 15 February is the 57th Anniversary of the Royal Proclamation of the Canadian Flag in Parliament in Ottawa by HM Queen Elizabeth II.
Here is a painting of 1671 of a famous spot in Rome. On the left is the French Church of the Minimes, a religious Catholic order devoted to the study of science. Their church is Trinita Dei Monti which today stands at the top of the famous staircase known as the Spanish Steps. In the painting you have a group of trees, the Obelisk of Sallust is also missing, the staircase will come later around 1723. Next to the church is the monastery of the Minimes Fiars which is not open to visitors unless you can make some arrangement to visit privately. Galileo was on good terms with the Minimes Friars and during his trial they offered to keep safe his paperwork and observation notes on the planets and the theory which says that the Earth circles the Sun, if he was found guilty would be destroyed. There is the most fantastic gallery in this monastery where on the walls a Universal clock has been painted, to this day this gallery is kept in darkness except for a little square opening in one window which when it is open to allow the rays of the Sun to hit the wall will show you the exact time in the known Cities of the world in 1600. I saw this phenomenon at work during a private visit, it was fascinating. The rays marked the time and moved like the hands of a clock.
In 1610, Galileo published his Sidereus Nuncius (Starry Messenger), describing the surprising observations that he had made with the new telescope, among them, the Galilean Moons of Jupiter. With these observations and additional observations that followed, such as the phases of Venus, he promoted the heliocentric theory of Nicolas Copernicus published in De revolutionibus orbium coelestium in 1543. Galileo’s discoveries were met with opposition within the Catholic Church, and in 1616 the Inquisition declared heliocentrism to be “formally heretical.” Galileo went on to propose a theory of tides in 1616, and of comets in 1619; he argued that the tides were evidence for the motion of the Earth.
The Inquisition Tribunal was composed of Spanish priests and Cardinals and they were a political force to contend with, even the Pope was afraid of them because they had the support of the Spanish King Philip IV. The Pope at the time was Urban VIII who was well educated and very interested in the work of Galileo, he encouraged him to write his book on celestial matter and observations. However though Galileo’s writing went against Official Church Doctrine saying that the Earth was the centre of the Universe, no one thought it would lead to such a controversy given how popular such new theories were. However they were written during major wars of religion in Europe between Protestants and Catholics, which did not help matters.
The garden next to the monastery was created in the first century AD and was a pleasure garden which belonged to a rich Roman who was told to commit suicide in order for Messalina the wife of Emperor Claudius to get it for herself so she could entertain her many young lovers. This garden today separates the monastery from the French Academy in Rome where Galileo was imprisoned during his trial. The large building with a tower in the background is the Quirinal Palace, which at the time was a summer palace for the Pope, it became a Royal Palace for the Italian Kings in 1870 and since 1946 is the residence of the Italian President. Everything else you see in this painting is as it was then, nothing really changes in Rome, everything is kept, repaired and re-purposed. We often walked in this area, the view of the city is impressive.
Well on Wednesday, Will was not feeling well and he wanted to get tested for Covid, the clinic is in the old Federal garage by the bridge and next to the race track, just a 5 minute car drive. We went, I was expecting crowds, there was about 100 cars in front of us but the line was moving quickly. So the procedure is simple you can either walk in from the street, the test is given to you and you are out in 6 minutes. We came by car and so it took 90 minutes to get tested and the results are posted online at the PEI Health Dept. you can access the confidential results by entering your health card number. If you are positive you will get a phone call for a second test and to give contact information. It’s free and it’s easy and why not for peace of mind. I am feeling fine and have no symptoms but we live together and so we should both get the test. Later in the day we checked online and we are both negative. Will was happy and relieved.
The Weather continues to be mild in a very strange fashion, more like early Spring mild than end of December. Out West in Prairies and the West Coast they are freezing to death -45C to -50C and lots of snow which is completely out of character for them. The joke is that British Columbia got too much snow and they phone PEI to say, please come and get this snow delivered to us by mistake, it’s yours come and pick it up.
So our New Year’s Eve will be very quiet, no parties, no get together, just quiet dinner at home for the two of us. I wish to remain positive that 2022 will be better, there is no point in feeling maudlin, despite the news which is over dramatic. True that our little province today Thursday has 169 cases with again is absolutely not good, but no one in hospital, symptoms in most cases are mild. Boosters are being given out like candy on appointment. It’s not funny to live with this but it is a new normal for me anyways. Looks like kids are not going back to school and the University has already switched to online teaching.
Those who are sick are in the population were either not vaccinated or had one vaccination only. Many were children who now can get their vaccination but we still have a lot of parents who hesitate.
Winter here continues to be so mild that it feels like Europe, in fact some cities like Berlin have more snow than us in Charlottetown. The river is not frozen, no skiing, no ice for skating, so it is just cold -5C and humid. Life goes on.
A small Piazza in front of an old Palace in Rome, an area we walking in many times, so pleasant. Christmas in Rome was always so wonderful and full of lights and delights.
I came upon some photos of years ago one is of Cairo in 1991 Christmas. I was talked into being the Santa for all the kids at the Canadian Embassy. With the children of our local Egyptian staff and the Canadian colleagues children, there was about 60 kids.
I remember getting dressed in the Santa’s costume at my home in Zamalek and then being driven to the party. On the street Egyptians were waiving, Hello Santa. Such a popular guy, the party went on for hours and the kids were super excited and I was exhausted, parents were happy. We had great fun and this is one of my best memories of Cairo.
Cairo at Christmas was festooned with multicoloured lights and you would think that being a majority Muslim country there would be no festivities. However while in Egypt I discovered that the Virgin Mary is honoured in Islam as being chosen by God to be the mother of the prophet Jesus. Egyptians also love a good celebration and a laugh.
Of course during our time in Egypt, we got to ride camels and I can tell you that it is not comfortable if you do not know how to sit properly.
This photo from 1991 is of my late colleague Jim Gould who took over from me as Santa, the brave fellow. I did manage to fool his daughter in 1990 when I was Santa and I wonder if he also was able to do this, the kid was a sharp observer. My colleague Bill with the camera in the background and his wife Janet. Two of our local staff feeding the beast. People are dressed against the cold, despite what people may think Winters in Egypt can be cold, around 10C in the day time and much colder at night.This picture of me and Diana, the president of the Canadian Club in Rome at our Club Xmas party in 2010. In Rome we always had such elegant parties and so much fun. Christmas in Ottawa in 1980 our first apartment and our tree. The young days.Us today, Summer of 2021 in PEI.
It seems that everyday I will have some chores or this or that matter to attend to, today was no different. Yesterday our Chief Medical Officer announced that a first case of Omicron had been found on the Island, this led to new restrictions and created a wind of panic in the population. Those most at risk are of course the unvaccinated and they are the ones now getting sick. Among them of course are people who fail to follow any guidelines on hygiene or public health measure. What is truly sad is the number of people who are ill with cancer and other serious conditions who are displaced for the covid cases. There is still about 10% of the population which is not vaccinated and still refuse to get vaccinated despite the proven risks. So why should the Government pay attention to them, they took a risk let them suffer the consequences, do not penalize others who need care. The problem is compounded in Provinces with Conservative government who make no effort to ensure the populations safety and prefer to blame the Prime Minister with false accusations and conspiracy theories.
I went to see my pharmacist today and got our appointment for our booster shot, so I am looking forward to that. It was not difficult to arrange, we have quite a few options to get the booster. It is encouraging to see so many people making appointments.
In the meantime we have to modify our activities at the Club and postpone any Holiday celebration, better safe than sorry.
We still have to complete the decorations for the Holiday Season, I think we will do that in the next few days.
I learned today that the modern Myth of the White Christmas or the idea that we must have snow at Christmas was influenced by the writings of Charles Dickens who was born in 1812 and for the first 8 years of his life in Portsmouth witnessed 8 years of snowy Christmases.
It made an impression on him and we can read it in his books and the public fell in love with this notion. In many countries where I have lived December or Winter is warm or if cold not sufficiently to induce snowfalls.
This 4 November is an important date in the life of Italy, which started as a unified country some 160 years ago with the help of Garibaldi and his men. It is also the modern 150 anniversary of Rome re-becoming the Capital of an Unified country. Prior to this Italy was divided in numerous principality and kingdoms since the 8th century. The Italian republic also celebrates 75 years since the Monarchy was abolished by referendum after the second world war.
160 anni dell’Unità d’Italia, 150 anni di Roma Capitale, 100 anni del trasferimento al Vittoriano della salma del Soldato Ignoto, 75 anni di Repubblica.
Rome, Piazza Venezia, Monument to the Unity of Italy. Behind this marble monument is the Roman Forum. Piazza Venezia is truly the centre of Rome.
I recently purchased a new computer and I am going through a bunch of photos some 11K to be exact.
Many I no longer want and sometimes cannot remember what I am looking at. However this photo jumped at me.
Mercato Via Alessandria, Roma
This was our market in Rome about 3 blocks from our house. It was and is open Monday to Saturday from 8am to 1pm. It sells, all manners of vegetables and fruits in Season, no imports here. Italian cheeses, farm eggs, meat, olives, olive oil, the best is sold in December/January, flowers, freshly made pasta, freshly baked breads, local Roman wine, which is good for the table or cooking. No frozen foods here. This photo was taken in March, I know because you can see artichokes on sale and they only appear in March. All of what you see on sale comes from the farms in the Lazio region around Rome. The exception is bananas and oranges which are not grown in Italy.
When you shop, it is better to go early, that is what the old ladies do, to get the best selection. It is a pleasure to shop in this environment, everything is beautifully displayed with great care by the vendors. No big corporations here, the Italian Government has been very careful to encourage/protect local instead of big box. It’s very local for locals and all in Italian of course. I learned the terms use for measurement of how much you wish to buy, you can say one kilo, but let’s say you wish to buy less, like 100 or 200 grams the word is Un Etto or Due Etti, it’s informal Italian.
The protocol of shopping here is that you touch nothing and do not serve yourself. You say hello to the vendor, first, then ask for what you want, the vendor will take care of choosing for you and bagging it all. Very civilized.
As for fish, you have to go to the fish merchant, which is located nearby, but go early, before 10am, they usually close by 11:30am. What you will see on display is what was available today, it changes constantly. So you have to be flexible on what type of fish or seafood you want, because we are in Italy, you will find local fish, nothing imported. There is a good variety. You can also buy fish in some grocery chain store but again the selection is based on daily catch.
Italians are fussy about food and what they buy, freshness and good quality is everything. I have seen arguments between some lady and the vendors, it’s all polite but has the tone of a police interrogation. Vendors have to be able to tell where their supplies come from and when it arrived. When it come to fish or seafood, the old lady will want to see the books for arrival dates. Don’t try to fool them, you do so at your peril. That women buying from you is cooking for her family, it is a question of honour.
I only wish that here in Canada, we would be so fussy, I cannot imagine someone not knowing how to cook or not knowing what type of cheese, vegetable or meat to buy, everyone would think you are poorly educated. Same for wines, I forget how many labels there are in Italy, I believe it is above 27000. You have to know your stuff and if you don’t at least ask for suggestions without showing you ignorance.
All these markets in Rome, there is one per neighbourhood, most of them were built between 1926-1935 by Mussolini’s government.
Well we are in mid-October already, how time flies. Thanksgiving was nice and quiet and the weather
though gradually getting cooler and the days shorter, is still very mild and pleasant. Beautiful Indian Summer on the island
and very pleasant all around, difficult to think that we will be changing time in early November and then Winter will slowly set
in.
A lovely dinner, I love dinner parties, they are the best.And another dinner party in the last few days. Again the food was excellent.
Weeks go by quickly and each week brings new activities, I have to keep a calendar agenda. No time for boredom here.
This Thursday in the news, it was announced that Alitalia the Italian transport company was ceasing operations after 75 years. It was created in 1946 as the New Italian Republic was created with the abolition of the Italian Monarchy and the end of the Second World War. I remember back in 2009 when we lived in Rome, Alitalia was already then in deep financial trouble and bankrupt. However the Prime Minister then Sylvio Berlusconi refused to allow the airline to disappear or be bought by another carrier. So he bailed it out of trouble with grand plans to reorganize and start anew. Nothing came of it and today finally it was buried. Changes in transportation in Italy itself with high speed trains connecting all the major towns and regions made flights within Italy obsolete.
International flights with the pandemic took a serious hit and Alitalia really had no future with its bloated staff and far too many unprofitable routes. However the Italian Government has decided to create as of tomorrow a new company called ITA or Italia Transporto Aereo with far fewer routes and only a quarter of the staff the old Alitalia had.
Back in the period 2007 to 2011 when I was posted to Rome, I had to travel to Albania often, in fact I went to Tirana 38 times during that period, a record really. I always flew with Alitalia direct from Rome for the one hour flight, the plane would fly from Rome to Bari and then cross the Adriatic to Tirana. However with the constant threat of bankruptcy on one particular trip I really thought Alitalia was going under and I would be stuck in Tirana. The crew stayed at the same hotel I stayed at, there were only 2 choices in Tirana, one was the Sheraton and the other was an hotel operated by an Austrian chain with a good restaurant. The Sheraton did not have restaurants, it was attached to a shopping mall which had gone bankrupt and the only restaurant or stand served awful burgers and hotdogs. The Austrian Hotel was much nicer with a beautiful garden and pool and far better service and amenities and was an easier walk to the Canadian Consulate. Thing is, in Tirana like in all Balkan countries, roaming big feral dogs are a feature, it is quite a problem and you should avoid them. It is much worse in other Capital like Belgrade or Bucarest or Sofia.
I suppose if Alitalia did go under, the plan was to drive to the port of Durres and there catch the ferry across to Bari. Another plan was to catch a flight with the Italian Air Force which flew to Albania, the country was an Italian colony between 1939-1943 and King Zog was forced into exile to London, living at the Ritz Hotel. The King of Italy became the ruler of Albania. A strange little country to this day, very much what you would expect from the Balkan. Anyway it did not happen and Alitalia survived.
Alitalia was a nice airline, the service was good as was the food. But it could also be unpredictable in a very Italian way, a flight would be cancelled or changed without notice. It had style and panache which is very Italian. I am sure that ITA will continue in the same tradition, certain things never change.
Jerry and I get around. In 2011, we moved from the USA to Spain. We now live near Málaga. Jerry y yo nos movemos. En 2011, nos mudamos de EEUU a España. Ahora vivimos cerca de Málaga.
Tutto iniziò con Memorie di Adriano, sulle strade dell'Impero Romano tra foto, storia e mito - It all began with Memoirs of Hadrian, on the roads of the Roman Empire among photos, history and myth!
Telling the stories of the history of the port of Charlottetown and the marine heritage of Northumberland Strait on Canada's East Coast. Winner of the Heritage Award from the PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation and a Heritage Preservation Award from the City of Charlottetown
Larry Muffin At Home 