Two days ago, the Cornelian family journeyed to Rome on the Appian Way. It was now the seventh hour on a warm day. Syrus, the chariot driver, and Sextus, the son of Cornelius, were watching the road and the vehicles on it. They see a courier coming towards them. Syrus held the horses and tried to avoid the courier. But sadly, the chariot, with all of the Cornelians, fell into a large ditch. Syrus tried to avoid the ditch but the chariot still fell in. The courier went away quickly. Everyone was okay and unharmed. But Cornelius was miserably scolding and blaming the chariot driver for the accident. Syrus tried to haul the chariot out of the ditch but it would not move. Cornelius said that Syrus was at fault. It was now the eleventh hour and the chariot was still stuck in the ditch because the chariot driver was not able to move it. The Cornelians thought that maybe they should spend the night in the inn. It was getting darker now. They decided to got to the inn and spend the night there. Cornelius led his family to the inn while the driver remained alone in the road. He was to keep watch over the chariot and the horses.
Errare in Viam Appiam Duo dies abhic, Cornelii iter ad Roma in Viam Appiam. Septima hora erabat, in dies calidus. Syro, Raedarius, et Sextus, filius Cornelius, sedebat, viam et vehicula spectabant. Tabellari videbat. Syrus equos tenet et tabellarium vitat. Sed dolere, raeda, cum omnes Cornelii, in fossam magno fragore descendit. Syrus temptare vito fossam, sed raeda descendit. Tabellaria irebat celerrime. Omnes sunt incolumnes. Sed Cornelius raedarium mirserum reprehendit. Syrus temptare extrahere raeda ex fossam sed non movere. Cornelius dit raedarius est culpa. Erat diende undecimus hora, raeda erat adhuc in fossa manebat quod raedarius eam movere non poterat. Cornelii cogitare is pernoctare in caupona. Erat advesperascit nunc. Is constituare ad caupona pernoctare. Sed licit nobis periculosus erat. Cornelius ad Cauponem ducebat, raedarius solus in via manebat. Raedam et equos custodiebat
Have you ever wondered how far back you can trace your family? Maybe you could only go as far as your grandparents or great grandparents. How about following it back to the 400's BC? Is it at all possible?
Well, Lawrence Cincinn believes he can, and claims to be a descendent from the famous Lucius Quictius Cincinnatus.
Lucius Quictius Cincinnatus lived from 519 BC to 430 BC in Rome. He was a great patriot and military leader and a model Roman citizen. In 458 BC, the Aquei, which was another civilization that bordered Rome, surrounded a Roman Army and its commander. The Aquei were a people that Rome has been fighting with for half the century so far. This was taking place near Mt. Algidus in the Alban hills southeast of Rome. Since Rome was now in a state of emergency they declared Cincinnatus dictator. This position could last up to six months. The Senate quickly rushed to Cincinnatus' farm where they whisked him away to the city of Rome and told him of the crisis at hand.
Concinnatus didn't waste time when he heard the news and the very next day he ordered everyone of military age to report on the Campus Martius. All of these people had to be armed, provided with five days of food supplies, and each carrying twelve poles to be used for building a palisade. That very day, the Army and Cincinnatus marched from Rome to Mt. Aligidus. They arrived there at midnight and it was in the darkness that Cincinnatus deployed his army. The troops made a circle around the Aquei army. When Cincinnatus said the word, the army began to shoot as they dug ditches to build the palisade to block the Aquei army in between the two Roman armies. Within sixteen days, the Aquei army surrendered. Cincinnatus went back to Rome where he refused all honors and resigned from the dictatorship. Concinnatus was said to be driven by his loyalty and love for Rome- and not for the wealth and power.
Could such a great man still remain here today with the blood of the Cincinn family? It is hard to say. Cincinn and Cincinnatus are definitely similar and could show that there really is a relation between them.
The Building of the World's Greatest Monument Right Here in Rome!
Everyone is counting down until the time comes when the Flavian Amphitheater is completed, so each person can see for himself this giant ellipse enclosed by its dramatically repetitious tiers of arches. It certainly will be Rome's most memorable attraction as well as the world's most famous monument! This idea of the amphitheater originated with Nero. Then, after Nero committed suicide, Emperor Vespasian started building it. Now his successors, the Flavian Emperors, plan to finish the amphitheater, named after them, and they will make it into a reality. Nero had planned on building it for his own amusement, whereas the Flavian Emperors plan for the amphitheater to benefit the public. It will house the greatest entertainment in the world, including gladiatorial games and wild beast hunts galore!
It is halfway built now, and those who are working on it have everyone anxiously awaiting its completion by telling us about the gleaming sunlight striking down on its new, unblemished surfaces and flashing off of the statues which decorate the arches. Imagine the day when hordes of people in a radiantly joyous mood will stop by as they approach it across the broad plaza. The ringing of excited spectators will lure them and the cheering of the people as they watch the bloody spectacles presented for each and every one of their amusements only. Mostly gladiatorial games are scheduled to take place there; however; rumor has it that there will probably be the occasional bullfight, sermons once a week, and a Verdi concert.
The building of the Flavian Amphitheater is extremely difficult. That is why it has been taking so long to complete it. All one can hope for is that it will stand forever so that tourists everywhere can glorify this amphitheater until the end of time. The architects and builders are working closely together to do their best to make sure that it will be strong enough to withstand any earthquake or lightening which might strike.
Here is some interesting insight on behalf of historian and psychic Quintus Petrarch. He has just received key news from the Delphic Oracle that in the future, the building will be known as the Colosseum. He believes that the future name change is in reference to the amphitheater's gigantic size, or possibly it will be called the Colosseum in relation to the nearby colossal statue of Nero.
This monument is being built in a broad valley between Esquiline, Paletine, and the Caelian hills as you read this very article. Its vast dimensions will inspire respect from all. Its huge elliptical edifice will be four stories tall and over 150 feet high! It will measure 620 ft. by 513 ft. and it will be enclosed in an oval arena approximately 287 ft. long by 180 ft. wide. Around the arena behind its protective walls will be a spacious podium, or marble terrace. There are luxurious ringside boxes made for the exalted people, such as the emperor himself. Above them will be tiers of marbled seats divided into two main zones. One will be for the distinguished private citizens and the other will be for the middle class members. A third area will be for slaves and foreigners, and a fourth area with wooden seats beneath a separate flat-roofed colonnade will exist for the use of the poor people as well as the women. Sailors will be recruited to stay on the roof in order to manage a large velarium, a colored awning to protect the audience against sun and rain. Don't worry because seats will always be available, since the seating capacity of the arena will be from 45 to 50 thousand people!
The architects are the people who really deserve credit for this awe-inspiring edifice.
They explain that it is made from travertine, local limestone, which was brought from the quarries near Tivoli. The architects planned a skeleton framework of concentric piers and arches, with linked travertine rings and a series of connecting lateral walls. The upper floor will be primarily brick and concrete, while the lower floor is made from tufa, or volcanic stone. The architects decide that the vaults should be built with pumice stone in order to reduce the weight of this massive, yet plain monument. Statues are planned to be built in the future inside the monument in order to jazz it up a bit.
The three other stories are divided by Doric, Ionic and Corinthian columns. The fourth story will consist of Corinthian pilasters. There will be approximately 80 entrances. Of those 80, 76 will have numbers that correspond to numbers stamped on the spectators' tickets. Two entrances will be strictly reserved for the emperor and his suite, which will lead directly towards the podium. Another two entrances will be solely for the use of the gladiators. (One of these was given the name Portia Libitinaria, after Libitina, the Roman God of Death). It is anticipated that within the year 80 AD, people will be able to actually walk inside the amphitheater for an inaugural festival, yet it will not be fully completed then. It is presently estimated that construction will finally be completed anywhere from the year 81 to 96 AD.
The People's Voice
Letters to the Editor:
I just want to commend Julius Caesar on his defeat of Spain in such a short amount of time. He showed true leadership and bravery when he returned to Rome saying the three words that he is most well known for now- "Vine, Vide, Vice". In my opinion, he is the best leader that Rome has ever had.
-Marc Flavius
This letter is in reference to an article printed in the last issue of the Roman Times ("The Value of the O-Dollar"). I'm sure that I am not the only citizen who is concerned about the scarcity of the O-Dollar and how hard they are to obtain. Due to it's scarcity, I feel that the value should be increased or else, over time, people would begin to lose the incentive to work hard to earn them. I think that the O-Dollar will fade with time since their value is not very high.
-Julius Octavius
As a proud citizen of Rome, I cannot find words enough to express my joy and
excitement in the building of this monument. I simply can't wait until the day when I can actually see this massive edifice for myself. It will be one of the wonders of the world! All I can say is Rome has finally been restored to herself!
-Arnescus Iacurum
I cannot understand why so much money is being put into building this amphitheater. A coin can represent Rome just as well as any monument, stature or inscription can despite the fact that it is so small. We will spend all of this money, yet rest assured that the building will not last. In my opinion, a coin can provide a far more lasting record that the most ambitious piece of masonry. My thoughts can best be expressed by the following poem.
Ambition sigh'd; she found it vain to trust
The faithless Column and the crumbling bust;
Their ruins ruin'd, and their place no more!
Convinc'd, she now contracts her vast design,
And all her Triumphs shrinks into a Coin…
A small Euphrates thro' the piece is rolled,
And little Eagles wave their wings in gold.
-Alexander Pope