Rome via Brooklyn

(402 words, 2 minutes read time)

The Museo Nazionale Romano delle Terme, which displayed the archaeological findings and locations of the Baths of Diocletian, was super cool. I particularly enjoyed learning about the myth of Cupid and Psyche–I’m not sure why exactly Psyche was portrayed with butterfly wings, but I think it’s very aesthetically pleasing. In Claridge’s Rome, she writes about the newer reorganization of these displays of the Baths, which greatly expanded upon the materials shown and the mediums used for exhibiting them. (Claridge 482) The constant evolution of curation and archaeology makes it so these places that focus on displaying antiquities will always stay fresh to viewers.

Today was my solo presentation on the Cult of Mithras! I usually take pride in my public speaking ability, but I’ve found that this more tight-knit group can make me nervous in ways I wasn’t expecting. I was really anxious before giving my presentation, but I think it went well overall! Mithras and the cult surrounding him was super interesting to research and I’m looking forward to seeing the Mithraeum on Saturday.

There was this golden beetle that landed on Khadija’s dress that really stuck out in my memory of this day for some reason. I made some quip about how much in-game money it would go for in Animal Crossing, but I think I also like (or can generally deal with/kill) bugs more than most of my roommates. Finding beauty in the unconventional also occurred when going to Santa Maria’s church, as I found myself enjoying the side room containing the remains of the Diocletian Baths more than the church itself. The church was still amazing to walk through, though, and I gained more appreciation for it after Mazzy’s presentation.

I also greatly enjoyed the Palazzo Massimo alle Terme! It included lots of pieces where I could put the terms and history I’ve learned throughout this course to work, and it felt like a tiny full-circle moment. Though the bittersweet feeling of this being our last week of class remained in my mind, I’m sure I’ll have much more to discover and learn on my next visit to Rome.