Tuesday, July 14

Happy Birthday to Matt! I believed it was good luck that my presentation for class was on Matt’s birthday. My presentation was on the Theatre of Pompey, created in 61 BC. The research was quite interesting, but I was extremely nervous to present the monument considering I was the first presentation in the class. Here’s a little about the Theatre of Pompey taken from my essay:

While most triumph recipients built a victory temple to honor gods who had assisted them in battle, Pompey had extravagant plans for much more than a temple. Instead, he built an entire complex, mostly a theater, which was constructed between 61 BC and 55 BC. In the end, the payoff would be greater than just a beautiful monument. The initial step in Pompey’s rise was building a revolutionary structure unlike any other in Rome.

With an entire complex beautiful in appearance, revolutionary in extravagance, and entertaining for the public, Pompey created a center that would easily help his popularity increase. He hoped to draw attention to himself and away from the current government, eventually gaining so many supporters that he could take over Rome. In many ways he achieved this with the excitement of a new public space. All people of all classes could enter free of charge, attracting the masses.

The Theater of Pompey and its entire complex marked a turning point in Rome when they were completed. This structure was so grand and unique that it changed the standard in architecture. Perhaps more importantly, it changed the role of the individual in Republican Rome, leading to a mentality around individual rulers in power. Pompey easily broke the rules set out by the Senate and gained individual power from his own great success. He no longer needed support from the government. With Crassus and Julius Caesar undergoing similar surges of power, Rome was being run by individuals rather that the supposed council in place. Pompey’s complex was so profound that we can see it as the beginning of the fall of the Republic.

I was excited to be done with my presentation, but I wasn’t finished with my paper. I did a good chunk of it and went out for drinks in honor of Matt’s birthday! We found a place in Campo di Fiori called the Drunken Ship where they had Ladies’ Night: drinks for only 3.50! After a couple drinks we were all craving French Fries and went to this place in Trastevere called FRIES. Yum! All they serve is French fries with a poking stick and a cup of sauce. While there were many sauces to choose from, I got regular cheese because it just sounded so good. I might have to back next time I feel homesick! (Although, they were not quite as good as fries in the States.)