| The dawn of the Republic was marked by an event that would have seen the whole of Rome celebrating on the streets. It was the dedication ceremony of a building that once stood here on the Capitoline Hill. The single most important temple ever erected in Rome. On 13th September 509 BC, this spot above the forum would have been packed with people. And what an awesome spectacle it would have been. They were there for the dedication of the vast new temple of Jupiter, Optimus Maximus, the biggest and brightest of the Roman gods. There was an altar outside for sacrifices and the doors were always open so passers-by could see the huge and gaudy statues of the gods within. For a Roman who was there that day it would have been as magnificent as it was unforgettable. The entire ceremony was designed to remind the Roman people that the god Jupiter was the source of Roman glory. And for the new Republic, this building marked a dramatic moment in the city's history. This was the opening ceremony of the first pagan cathedral of republican Rome. |
YouTube搜索结果 (转至YouTube)