The feeling of standing in the center of an ancient Roman anfiteatro (amphitheatre) is so amazing, it's indescribable. This place was occupied by people so so long ago. It was built so long ago, and yet it still remains. Gladiators fought there, people died there. Ferocious animals were kept in cages and released into a pit with pillars to fight for triumph or death.
Pillars and statues half remain along with the foundation of housing and even floor tiling. Once, people built it all. Now, this is all that is left of a place that used to be thriving with life. Someday that is all that will exist of the world we live in today. At what point does that land become ruins? How will we go? Why will we leave? People do come and go, but a civilization's legacy and influence can last for thousands of years, maybe even forever. We can experience their life after they have lived it, we can enter the world through their eyes.
The past gives us insight into the future. People lived so differently then, yet they were people just like you and I. They loved and were afraid, they learned and made mistakes, and I'm sure they had good days and bad days. Perhaps for them a bad day was when they were locked in an arena facing a full grown lion, and although typically we are not forced to face a lion, we find ourselves in difficult situations and we must overcome them to continue our lives with content. Ancient Romans were not so different. A person is a person no matter what time period they come from. It's incredible to see evidence of that, even when they lived thousands of years ago.
A Roman civilization once existed in Seville, and for a moment so did I. I shared a space with gladiators. The thought is quite remarkable and it gives me goosebumps.
Those Romans were everywhere in Europe and they left quite a footprint. It's also one of my favorite things about Europe. Keep those stories coming Lindsay.
ReplyDeleteI got goosebumps reading your thoughtful comments and observations. And while I was not actually there with you, I felt like I was. Thank you, Sweet Pea, for sharing not only what you did -- but how you felt when you did it -- with all of us. I love you (more!) ... Your Momba xoxo
ReplyDeleteLindsay, I know you are learning and reflecting deeply, and this post is a great example of that. Your writing is far more reflective and synthetic, it is wonderful to see how you are integrating such learning with deep experience of being a member of larger community. I was so happy to read this post and I want you to tell our classmates all about it when you get back!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the posts Lindsey. That sense of history is indeed a precious thing to have -- and connecting deeply to that larger humanity is so important. It is also something that *you* bring with you and share with others Lindsay. I kept seeing it when you were here.
All the best,
Nacho