I chose The Assumption of the Virgin by Daniele da Volterra. It is a painting in Trinità dei Monti Church by the Spanish Steps.
"While he was speaking, a woman from the crowd called out and said to him, 'Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts where you nursed.' He replied, 'Rather blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.'" (Luke 11:27-28)
This is a photo of Mary being brought up to Heaven after dying. It is named the Assumption of Mary because she was believed to be taken up, body and soul, to heaven. Her tomb near Mt. Zion was found empty and there were no relics of Mary. "The Assumption is God's crowning of His work as Mary ends her earthly life and enters eternity." (Fr. Clifford Stephens)
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
325: Week #1
In our first class we were asked "How do you think you will be changed after 8 weeks in Italy?" Well, I believe that I will be more aware of different cultures. At dinner last night, Danilo asked us if we wanted him to say thank you the Italian way or the American way. We told him to choose. He just said "uh huh," to point out how lazy Americans are even when talking. In different cultures, not saying "you're welcome" can be seen as disrespectful.
In The Italians, Luigi Barzini talks about how the Italians fell about the flood of tourists especially when the amount of tourists greatly surpasses their population. Barzini says that people flock to Rome because of some unknown urge. Most Italians try to stay away from the invaders from foreign lands, but some find love with them. Wealthier families sent their sons to Italy to lear Italian because it is the language of love, "following the Emperor Charles V's maxim: 'I speak Spanish to God, Italian to women, French to men, and German to my horse.'" (pg 25)
We visited the Colesseum and Roman Forum on our excursion yesterday. I have never been that interested in history! I had heard of the Colesseum before, but I never realized how many people and animals were killed there. Most people went just to see people die! Even the people who had the "bad" seats, still came to watch the prisioners being put to death. I also was astonished to hear that it was built the the year 80AD! Even with technologies today, I don't believe that we could build something that would last that long.
The Roman Forum was also amazing! The Temple of Antoninus and Faustina had a door that was about 5 feet off the ground after you went up the steps. The Forum was built in a valley on a marsh land so over time the ground grew higher and higher and people built on top of it because they didn't know anything was underneath. All of the the structures, even though they were ruins, were beautiful and had a lot of history behind them.
In The Italians, Luigi Barzini talks about how the Italians fell about the flood of tourists especially when the amount of tourists greatly surpasses their population. Barzini says that people flock to Rome because of some unknown urge. Most Italians try to stay away from the invaders from foreign lands, but some find love with them. Wealthier families sent their sons to Italy to lear Italian because it is the language of love, "following the Emperor Charles V's maxim: 'I speak Spanish to God, Italian to women, French to men, and German to my horse.'" (pg 25)
We visited the Colesseum and Roman Forum on our excursion yesterday. I have never been that interested in history! I had heard of the Colesseum before, but I never realized how many people and animals were killed there. Most people went just to see people die! Even the people who had the "bad" seats, still came to watch the prisioners being put to death. I also was astonished to hear that it was built the the year 80AD! Even with technologies today, I don't believe that we could build something that would last that long.
The Roman Forum was also amazing! The Temple of Antoninus and Faustina had a door that was about 5 feet off the ground after you went up the steps. The Forum was built in a valley on a marsh land so over time the ground grew higher and higher and people built on top of it because they didn't know anything was underneath. All of the the structures, even though they were ruins, were beautiful and had a lot of history behind them.
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