The Colosseum: This name appeared for the first time in a famous prophecy of the medieval monk Venerable Beda: “Rome will exist as long as the Colosseum does; when the Colosseum falls so will Rome; when Rome falls so will the world."
As I stepped foot off of the tour bus the first thing I saw was the Arch of Constantine. This triumphal arch is an amazing entry way to the Roman Forum. Inside the arch are reliefs of Trajan's victory over the Dacians. The archway was the first thing we saw of many awe inspiring monuments.
My attention was then drawn to the Colosseum, in all its bright and historical glory. The Colossuem is one of the most inspiring structures I have ever laid my eyes upon. I just remember closing my eyes after soaking in the astonishing splendor of it all. I imagined learning about the Colosseum when I was in grade school. I remember learning about the gladiators who lost their lives in the arena. I closed my eyes and imagined the trumpets sounding, the crowd rising to their feet in gleeful cheer and stomping their feet while the gladiators paraded around the arena like heroes. I imagined the Colosseum in all its grandeur, with white stone walls filled with spectators. It was a humbling experience, I was standing on ground once soiled by blood where history was made. It truly is a feeling I cannot describe, the magnificence of it all is more than I can put into words. This entire adventure has been moving. While walking around the Roman ruins I felt as though I was present in the bible times. Growing up reading about the Romans and the letters to the Romans I could distinctly imagine the forum bustling with people walking about the gardens and the city.
The Bible records a number of ancient civilizations however, the most famous of these is ancient Rome. By the time the New Testament Rome was the major world power. Jesus was born and crucified during the reign of Roman emperors. The book of Acts even records specific events about Rome. True facts are somewhat shrouded in the mists of time; yet while I walked around the Roman ruins I felt the realness of it all. The impact of the Romans on the gospel is apparent right from the beginning of the gospels in the Bible. Walking around the ruins helped me to imagine the world in which Jesus lived. Once again, my eyes filled with tears and my body was covered with chills. Now, it has been said that Christians were killed and crucified in the Colosseum, I do not know what is true but just the thought of it chilled me to the bone and made the whole experience ETHEREAL.
If history means anything to you, believe me...the Colosseum and Roman Forum is a place you NEED to travel.
When I had my eyes open it felt as though I was walking through the skeleton of Ancient Rome as a ghost viewing the city through misty eyes. Yet, when I closed my eyes I could clearly see the colosseum and forum in all its glory, gory and majesty.
The Bible records a number of ancient civilizations however, the most famous of these is ancient Rome. By the time the New Testament Rome was the major world power. Jesus was born and crucified during the reign of Roman emperors. The book of Acts even records specific events about Rome. True facts are somewhat shrouded in the mists of time; yet while I walked around the Roman ruins I felt the realness of it all. The impact of the Romans on the gospel is apparent right from the beginning of the gospels in the Bible. Walking around the ruins helped me to imagine the world in which Jesus lived. Once again, my eyes filled with tears and my body was covered with chills. Now, it has been said that Christians were killed and crucified in the Colosseum, I do not know what is true but just the thought of it chilled me to the bone and made the whole experience ETHEREAL.
If history means anything to you, believe me...the Colosseum and Roman Forum is a place you NEED to travel.
When I had my eyes open it felt as though I was walking through the skeleton of Ancient Rome as a ghost viewing the city through misty eyes. Yet, when I closed my eyes I could clearly see the colosseum and forum in all its glory, gory and majesty.
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