Est quaedam flere voluptas.
There is a certain pleasure in weeping. (Ovid)
Living on Mons Esquilinus, I enjoy all that Rome has to offer. Ah, beautiful Roma, center of the Civilized World!
Rome is
Where Julius Caesar said after Zela, "veni, vidi, vici," and fell on fate's dagger.
Where ten-year-old girls are betrothed, and young boys are trained for public rhetoric.
Where slaves are the basis of economy and superstition rules the household.
Where law is based on reason, as opposed to divine revelation.
Where Virgil, Horace, Lucretius, Cicero and the letters of Pliny are popular reading.
Where the populace gather on holidays and pack the arena watching exotic creatures, such as giraffes, tear madly around before being shot to death with arrows.
Where gladiators hack each other to death, and criminals are fed to hungry lions.
Some here say Roman life is the life of being involved in things, attending ceremonies and spectacles, being seen, taking an interest, coming together with others. Perhaps we will meet sometime.
An eandem Romanis in bello virtutem quam in pace lasciviam adesse creditis? ~
Agricola 30:32
Urban Builder's Guild
Villa credits: Damask page backgrounds for entrance and atrium courtesy of The Inspiration Gallery.
Other rooms courtesy of Absolute Background Textures Archive. Animated rose and photo of the Appian way are freeware found long, long ago.
