Rome via Brooklyn

385 words, 2 minute read.

As is a commonality of this trip, so much happened today. I’m finding myself getting more comfortable in the area, and using my Italian more. Things are starting to stick to my memory, like where the nearest grocery store is and how to get to the bus stops and train stations; I almost feel like a local (delusion is also a commonality, it seems).

Yet again, the amount of layers this city has continues to astound me. It’s a little jarring to look at a building at ground level, then realize it isn’t actually ground level at all. The conversations we had about the Temple of Portunus sparked some thoughts. Professor Yarrow asked “Who is Rome for?” and my immediate (albeit a bit pretentious) answer in my head was the divine. Religion is so deeply engraved into Rome; whether it be temples to old Etruscan deities or churches for a Catholic God. Everywhere you turn, there is a monument that reflects the faith of those who used it.

During our break in between classes, I took a 40-minute walk along the Tiber. I definitely got lucky, as I was in the shade most of the time and there was a nice breeze. I’m always so amazed at everything I see when I’m walking around here. I try to look like I don’t care that I’m surrounded by millennia of history, but I can never stop myself from gawking at anything that catches my eye. It’s still crazy to me that there are people who see all this every day; who cross these bridges and pass these ruins and don’t think anything about it.

I was just about shaking with excitement when I found out the museum we were visiting housed Etruscan art. I’ve always thought the Etruscans were severely underrated in the scope of ancient civilizations, it was so cool to see an entire museum dedicated to them. Obviously what caught my eye the most is the gorgoneion, the same symbol I wear on my necklace! I’d only known it to be used by the Greeks and Romans, so seeing multiple gorgons at the museum really put into perspective how connected all of these civilizations really were. It was a nice full-circle moment that my favorite ancient civilizations all used my favorite symbol.

–Nico Vila