标签 罗马 下的文章

从意大利圣天使城堡俯瞰罗马 (© sborisov/Getty Images)

超凡脱俗的风景

罗马，意大利

今天的照片是从圣天使堡（又称哈德良陵墓）拍下的罗马美景。圣天使堡是由罗马帝国皇帝哈德良所修建，用作自己和后代的陵墓。除他之外，还有许多皇帝被葬在这里，公元217年的卡拉卡拉是最后一位。

从中世纪到19世纪，这座建筑被改造成了保卫罗马的堡垒，梵蒂冈也因此没有落入西哥特人和汪达尔人手中。1365年左右，圣天使堡成为了教会的财产。而在意大利统一后，这座建筑最终成为了博物馆，教会也就随之失去了它的所有权。

即使在今天，这座雄伟的建筑仍然吸引着数百万来自世界各地的游客，一直是罗马游客最多的博物馆之一。

古罗马广场上的萨图尔诺农神庙，意大利罗马 Temple of Saturn in the Roman Forum, Rome, Italy (© Joe Daniel Price/Getty Images)

When in Rome...celebrate Saturnalia

We're looking at the Temple of Saturn, one of the oldest structures of the Forum in Rome. It was here that ancient Romans began their celebrations of Saturnalia, which began on December 17. Both the temple and the festival are dedicated to the agricultural god Saturn, whose reign was associated with a golden age of prosperity and peace. Saturnalia festivities kicked off with a sacrifice at the temple, followed by a public banquet and a week of general merrymaking. Activities included gambling, eating, drinking, and playing music. Businesses and schools closed, and even slaves were free from work and allowed to participate in the merrymaking. Many Saturnalia customs evolved into Christmas traditions, such as gift-giving, decorating homes with wreaths, and drinking spiced wine.

古罗马广场上的塞维鲁凯旋门 At the Arch of Septimius Severus in the Roman Forum for the ides of March (© Pietro Canali/eStock Photo)