Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Ancient Rome, the Myth
As much a mythical construct as a historical reality, ancient Rome's image has been care-
fully nurtured throughout history. Intellectuals, artists and architects have sought inspira-
tion from this skilfully constructed legend, while political and religious rulers have invoked
it to legitimise their authority and serve their political ends.
Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims gathered on St Peter's Square on 1 May 2011 to witness the beatifica-
tion of Pope John Paul II. The ceremony, led by his successor Benedict XVI, is the last step before saint-
hood.
Imperial Spin Doctors
Rome's original mythmakers were the first emperors. Eager to reinforce the city's status as
caput mundi (capital of the world), they turned to writers such as Virgil, Ovid and Livy to
create an official Roman history. These authors, while adept at weaving epic narratives,
were less interested in the rigours of historical research and frequently presented myth as
reality. In the Aeneid, Virgil brazenly draws on Greek legends and stories to tell the tale of
Aeneas, a Trojan prince who arrives in Italy and establishes Rome's founding dynasty.
Similarly, Livy, a writer celebrated for his monumental history of the Roman Republic,
makes liberal use of mythology to fill the gaps in his historical narrative.
Ancient Rome's rulers were sophisticated masters of spin; under their tutelage, art, archi-
tecture and elaborate public ceremony were employed to perpetuate the image of Rome as
an invincible and divinely sanctioned power. Monuments such as the Ara Pacis, the Co-
lonna di Traiano and the Arco di Costantino celebrated imperial glories, while gladiatorial
games highlighted the Romans' physical superiority. The Colosseum, the Roman Forum
and the Pantheon were not only supremely sophisticated feats of engineering, they were
also impregnable symbols of Rome's eternal might.
A story fit for a soap opera, the Vatileaks scandal broke in early 2012 when documents purporting to ex-
pose corruption and in-fighting within the Holy See were leaked to the Italian press. The Vatican launched
an investigation and discovered the mole to be the pope's personal butler.
 
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