DECEMBER,1928. THE COLOSSEUM, ROME. if there were a sudden rush of evil things, and if the powers of darkness fought once more with those of light, as they How can one attempt to convey to others the profound did of old until forbidden by Constantine, the first Christian impression made by the Colosseum at Rome, ruined Emperor. though it now is. In the days of its splendour it must It was here, in the centre of the Colosseum that, in the indeed have been “exceeding magnifical” and awe in- last Holy Year (1927)the bronze cross shown in our picture spiring. It has been described by archzologists as the was set up, and the Holy Sacrifice celebrated on an altar most perfect amphitheatre that remains, and consists of placed at its base. a series of arcades placed one over the other, of which the The cross bears the inscription “Ave Crux, Spes Unica ” constant repetition of arch over arch gives the spectator (Hail the Cross our snly Hope), a hope which sustained the a sense of size and grandeur that many finer buildings Christian martyrs and kept them steadfast to the bitter ail to do. end. A further inscription bears witness to the fact of The Colosseum is built on the site where Nero constructed the frequency with which the blood of the martyrs was his lake, and was begun by Vespasian, soon after Nero’s shed there. . death, and completed by Titus in A.D. 80, when it was But see the Colosseum by moonlight for choice, as did inaugurated by games lasting for IOO days in which 5,000 some of the British visitors to the recent Congress by the wild animals were light of the harvest killed. Goon, which bathed Imagine this great everything in a silver ellipse filled with radiance piercing the 40-50,ooo spectators, soul with its beauty, the foremost row be- mystic, wonderful, ing reserved for the and you will realise Emperor, the Sena- that enveloped by a tors, the Vestal I power not of this Virgins and other dis- earth, and strong in tinguished persons. the faith which con- Each spectator waF quers through the provided with an ivory power of the Cross, ticket on which was they passed through written the name of the grave and gate his section, the row of death to a joyful and the number of resurrection, and their his seat. exceeding great re- The Colosseum was ward. A great peace used for gladitorial fills your heart as you demonstrations, wiId realize that, by the beast chases, aquatic grace of God, you sports and a great too may conquer in variety of triumphal that sign. spectacles. The wild Though now a ruin, animals were kept the grandeur of the under the special Colosseum must al- charge of soldiers in ways be impressive. a menagerie, near the Destroyed partly by great Pretorian Camp, earthquake, - and and brought to the partly, alas ! by dens under the arena human hands, -since by an underground the beginning of the passage. nineteenth century, Many things have efforts have been changed in this great made to preserve amphitheatre where THE BRONZE CROSS IN THE COLOSSEUM AT ROME, what still remains of men and beasts fought ___. this magnificent relic together, and where AVE CRUX SPES UNICA. of Imperial Rome. the mectacle of the c_ massgcre of Christian martyrs provided entertainment * A detail of interest which, for lack of space, has so far for a Roman holiday. But still intact are the slopes leading been omitted, in reference to our Italian visit, is the to the cages of the wild beasts, and the quarters where Ports Santa, at St. Peter’s, Rome, which is per- slaves and the victims of this cruel sport passed the manently closed and only opened in tho year of Jubilee previous night of agony, in the knowledge of the fate (the Holy Year), and then by the Pope himself. At the which awaited them when, having been brought to the West End, on the same side, is Michael Angelo’s Pieta, arena, the lions and other wild animals, released ffom exquisitely modelled in marble, and.depicting the Madonna their cages, rushed up the slopes, and attacked and killed holding in her lap the dead Christ. On the left side, in their victims. .It needs little imagination to picture the the first chapel as we enter are the tombs of the last of scene. There broods over the stillness which has succeeded the Stuarts, James 111, Charles Edward, and his brother, the excited cries and shouts of the great multitude there Cardinal York, built at the cost of George IV. assembled, as the unequal fights proceeded, a sinister atmosphere which envelops one as a pall, and makes one Mention must also be made of the beautiful basilica feel that one has stepped back many centuries and that of SS. Annunziata, the church of the Servite Order, Imperial and Pagan Rome, with its glories and its cruelties one of the treasures of which is a miraculous picture .till haunts the place. We should scarcely be surprised of the Virgin. previous page next page