Viaje: Itálica

My first viaje (trip) of the program was to a pueblo (small town) in Seville called Itálica, which is the largest site of Roman ruins in the area. 

Me (awkwardly) standing at my first site of Roman ruins

 Here is some background on Itálica:

Founded in 205 BC by Publio Cornelio Escipion the African during the war against Cartago (2nd Punic War), Itálica was the first Roman settlement on Iberian soil. Its archaeological importance comes from the fact that it has been fairly well-preserved, especially considering the looting that took place after the Romans abandoned Itálica around the 3rd century AD. Itálica's most impressive feature is its brick and stone amphitheatre--the third largest ever built in the Roman world. Over time, Itálica was transformed into an aristocratic enclave and summer resort, equal to Pompeii or even Rome itself.

Amphitheatre

The pit that you see in the center of the amphitheatre (above) was the site of the fights of the gladiators. The Romans would unleash wild animals such as lions and tigers (or other men) into the pit for the gladiators to attempt to conquer (Lots of men died there--yikes!).  

Below is a photo of the "gladiator waiting room." This is where they waited while thousands of people cheered to watch (probably) their last fight. In this room, many men spent the last moments of their life. 

Gladiator waiting room

Tunnel around the amphitheatre

The residents of Itálica were people of importance--senators, royalty, etc. Their infrastructure was advanced (they even had faucets that you could turn on and off) and their houses were extravagant. 

Ruins of a house

Itálica has many original ruins, such as the cobble rocks on the walking paths, mosaic works of art, and statues. 

Mosaic, a popular art form of the Romans

Statue of the image of an ideal emperor

It's difficult for me to fully understand the history behind these ruins.The United States of America is a relatively new country, and thus we do not have anything like the ruins of Itálica. Consequently, I (and many other Americans) have no real concept of exactly how old these ruins and other parts of Europe really are. While there, I tried to imagine what life would have been like for the some of the most influential families of the Roman Empire. And even if I can't fully understand the weight of it all, I still find it fascinating.