One day in ancient Rome Alberto Angela (The Sphere Books, 2009)
thing about works of historical disclosure is that while some may be a delight to them by the things that are not accessible way knew, others who know more about the topic can be as short as a primary textbook. So the first thing is to make clear what type it is this particular book, so that each reader to decide whether you should or not.
And in that spirit, I believe that this volume is a very good book to use as my first serious book on Rome ", and that both adults and young readers. Moreover, it is especially recommended for young people, even those without much inclination for reading because the book is full of surprising information, told in a fascinating and fast and clear. Moreover, it is one of those books full of illustrations for everything where things come only through the eyes. Here are perhaps a dozen of simple pencil drawings, but that's it. Text is well narrated and described that leaves room for imagination. Ojo, however, the final chapter, where after nine o'clock at night we move into the world of sex in the Roman, so when I say "younger" than each parent (and mother) so that you understand and allow . But earlier, during the day, as a warning to mariners, we will have seen painted bronze scurrilous and penises hanging everywhere, like lucky charms and a symbol of abundance.
The author, Alberto Angela, is a well known popularizer in Italy, mainly because television program 'Ulysses', which takes on the air in the RAI since 2000, and is dedicated to historical subjects of all kinds, from the Etruscans and the Pharaohs to the Everest, the czars, the Normandy landings or Andes. Obviously, the Roman world is one of the main themes each season and the 2007 Angela posted this 'A nell'antica giornata Roma' has come to Spain in the field of Books, translated by Alejandro Pradera.
The book gives exactly what it promises: a day in ancient Rome, exactly in the year 115, during the reign of Trajan. We have chosen this time, instead of perhaps the most famous time of Julius Caesar and Augustus, it is the time more geographic expansion of the Empire (though it does not matter, because we're moving capital Rome), and also because several of the most famous monuments of imperial Rome were not built before. Among them, especially the famous Colosseum, neither Caesar nor Augustus, for example, became known.
started the day at dawn, they would be six in the morning. Obviously, no electricity and artificial light means to stop not cost money, so the time is dictated by sunrise and sunset. Domus colándonos started a wealthy family, visiting just before they wake up the inhabitants, and seeing as we stretch and start the day, we go through the main sites of the city, both monuments, baths and temples and markets and narrow streets. Even as we are not Jack Bauer in '24 ', we shall also go to the toilet, where obviously we shall have to make do without paper.
Roma will see is a crowded, noisy, crowded and full of smells, colors (Rome is just red, white, green and gold) and flavors, sometimes charming and sometimes repulsive. Continuously compared with modern cities in North Africa or the East, such as Bombay, where you can find an amazing mix of what we would call first and third worlds. Each page brings a new corner house, tavern or house full of surprising elements, some so different from ours and others so similar. For example, the master of the house takes its good time to leave after taking care of your hair and makeup in the latest fashion, and secondly we will see how light a fire with a mushroom, or why the Romans preferred three-legged tables. After
domus of the rich pass by an island, which is a block of flats, as is, where the opposite of what happens today, the bass is most appreciated that high. First, because there are no elevators, and second, because if there is a fire, something not uncommon, is living up who later held exit. That if you can. Thus, while the ground floor can be a house in the same way as a domus, and also in the town center, as we climb the quality of the homes is deteriorating, and we are seeing lodgers story several times to share costs, which people crowded together, until the attic, which is often an almost uninhabitable place, full of leaks, which can only be practically lie down, close your eyes and wait for the day to pass out there. Because that's another feature of this Rome: as in many parts of Africa and Asia today, people keep practicing at home. A house is going to sleep, and life goes on the road, even Although there is no trade. The result is that there are people and confusion everywhere.
is a fascinating world in which to immerse, but the tone of the book never lets us forget that we are tourists. As mentioned above, in Rome compared with Tunisia Bombay or today, but we also see in a rich hot springs surrounded by servants as they serve every part of your body and clothing that looks like a Formula 1 mechanic surrounded . An architectural element of a building reminiscent of the Sydney Opera House. In the courts the powerful voice of a lawyer makes a room is empty and filled his own, as compared to change the television channel. Sesterces prices and aces we translated into euro.
A from three in the afternoon, the activity decreases almost suddenly. In the Coliseum, where it has been matinee performances with wild animals, it's time for the gladiators. And since we vanido at this time, and the Colosseum on the cover of the book, we can not fail to see a detailed description of several fights. At four in the afternoon, the shops are closed, and since we have from six in the morning there, we are invited to a banquet for several hours, we will learn much about the food we serve, some things we wish not have known. At nine o'clock at night, life does not end at all. There is sex, or taverns, or both, for the adventurous. Because over All day, we will not stop us come across several examples of what this city is violence, not only in administration of justice or for public entertainment. There will be bodies of a couple of days, tavern brawls and abandoned babies in places as familiar and routine that some people make their living by collecting and breeding them for different purposes (even resell them to their original parents.)
And so we ended the day. Like a visit of only a day to Rome any time we would be too short, this book puts what is possible to put in 380 pages and leaves the visitor the choice to delve into the subject or content with what seen. The visit, of course, has been worthwhile.
In short, it is a book of love making. Of those who do the best they can do a book, which is to make you want to read others. Even those who have populated the shelves of Latin classics, and you know how to make garum, how a Roman safe or how it is possible that someone who does not speak Latin or can write the purchase price is 37 sesterces would do well to have this work, if only to lend it to others.
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