Tomb of Cecilia Metalla
In Rome we took a subway ride, transferred to a bus, and within minutes were in countryside on the Via Appia Antica. Along the way we saw the tome of Cecilia Metella, a Roman noblewoman in the time of Julius Ceasar. The other structure was maybe the Circus of Maxentius, but the sign was worn so I'm not sure.
Perhaps the Circus of Maxentius
The Catacomb of San Sebastian was very inspiring. Tourists are not allowed to take pictures, so I really suggest you visit the web site about catacombs to see more. Most of the inscriptions are in Greek because early Christianity was the faith of the slaves brought to Rome from the eastern Mediterranean. From that standpoint, the tomb of Saint Sebastian assumed a new meaning for me. I had always thought the pictures of Sebastian (the saint tied to a tree pierced all over by arrows) was the ultimate in morbid masochistic images coming out of Christian art. But here I found that during this early period, when most of the Christians were slaves, Sebastian had been a member of the Roman royal guard. That's why he had been punished so harshly. Imagine how the slaves must have felt when a Roman guard was won to their faith, and their admiration or gratitude for his courage. It made me think of the war resistors during the last war. I thought of the young resistor kneeling down on the tarmac of the airstrip, refusing to go kill Iraqis.
How strange it seemed to emerge from an ordinary street and see structures so ancient and so grand.
This is a billboard near Trajan's Column for a "War Against Hunger". Yes, that is a zucchini the last soldier is holding.
Ken was delighted to find that in Italy even the Chinese restaurants serve cappuccino. We resolved to renew our campaign with the Siu sisters at the Pheonix Restaurant to get an espresso machine. If you stop by there (2000 Park Boulevard in Oakland, California) be sure to ask them for an extra hot latte!
