61. Michelangelo, the Warrior Pope, and St. Peter in Chains
We move from one basilica devoted to St. Peter to another, and this one requires that we get to know better the greatest sculptor of the Renaissance and a pope who wore armor into battle and also prom...
22 Jun 202122min
60. A War of Ideas in the Vatican Necropolis
Today we investigate two tombs under St. Peter's Basilica, one of a saint, the other of a sinner, or so at least the saint would say. But this sinner defends himself.
15 Jun 202119min
59. Augustus's Transformation of the Roman Forum
We have already examined five of Augustus's major building project in Rome, but we have not yet considered how he changed the beating heart of Ancient Rome, the Forum. Today we do.
8 Jun 202121min
58. Mussolini's Celebrations of Empire
One way Mussolini tried to make Italians proud of their nation was by acquiring an empire in East Africa. After conquering Ethiopia, he brought an obelisk back to Rome and likened himself to the Ancie...
1 Jun 202121min
57. A Visit to the Tombs Buried by St. Peter's Basilica
When Constantine built the first St. Peter's Basilica, he buried a burial ground that was not excavated for over 1,500 years. It included tombs of both Pagans and Christians, perhaps including that of...
25 Mai 202123min
56. Augustus and the Obelisks of Rome
Augustus and his imperial successors erected Egyptian obelisks in ancient Rome, and 13 of them are landmarks in the city today, though no one of them stands in its original location. Why were they so ...
18 Mai 202119min
55. Mussolini's Recasting of Garibaldi on the Janiculum Hill
1932 was the tenth anniversary of the Fascist March on Rome and the Fiftieth Anniversary of the death of Giuseppe Garibaldi, the most lionized leader of the movement to unite Italy under liberal polit...
11 Mai 202123min
54. Historical Vertigo in Rome Mini Pod
From week to week, my topics jump from Ancient Rome, to Christian Rome, to Modern Rome. This rapid leaping across the centuries may lead to a sort of "historical vertigo," so why don't I just march th...
6 Mai 202110min
