a day for relics, sacred and profane

mouth of the cloaca maxima, the roman sewer begun six centuries before christ --- not too good for the tiber river, but one of the first sewers in the world

view of the palatine hill from the aventine hill across the circo massimo (where they're having a big-ass concert on new years eve)

s, giovanni in laterano, which is technically part of the vatican

 

in the upper part of the baldacchino at giovanni laterano are supposed to be parts of the heads of peter and paul --- unfortunately recent dna tests have shown that the peter head does not match the remains at st. peter's basilica, which archeology has purty much proved are those of the saint --- somebody pulled a fast one on the pope

these are the original 2nd-century bronze doors to the roman curia (interior and exterior sides) installed  at laterano in the 17th century 

the gilded columns here, also at laterano, were taken from the roman temple of jupiter optimus maximus on the capitoline

among the many relics (including the true cross, which history suggest apparently contained enough wood to build a small house) that constantine's mother acquired in the 3rd city were the scala santa, the holy stairs, taken from the palace of pontius palace and upon which jesus walked --- can't believe they leave them out in the rain

s. pietro in vincoli displays the chains with which peter was bound in jerusalem and in rome --- when brought together god knows when they miraculously fused into a single chain and have been venerated for over 15 centuries

the catholics do spooky memorials real good

by far the best thing today was basilica di san clemente al laterno, but they allowed no photography --- it's a 12th century church built over a 4th century church ruined by the normans, itself built over a building that possibly dated to republican rome --- in the 1st or 2nd century it was adapted for worship of mithras, one of the major influences on early christianity  --- down, down, down, with the sound of running water from a spring overhead --- i don't think i've seen anything quite so awesome