Ascension in the Hermit Kingdom(Public Blog Post)

[jairpeltier]

The recurring theme of this trip has consistently been the reuse of space. At all ancient sites it has been a key point to understanding the history of this city. From the Baths of Diocletian to the the Temple Jupiter Optimus Maximus we can see how creative people have been throughout the ages. Some sites were simply used as foundations for new structures, some were reduced to mere spolia for modern ornamentation, and others were simply inhabited for a new purpose. It makes me think of Rome as a hermit kingdom. Not a hermit kingdom in the sense of embracing isolationist policies but rather that with every passing century a new generation would ascend to take place of what was left behind. This physically happened with physical space all the time. As circumstances changed, priorities were shuffled and people made decisions accordingly. Imagine the city as an empty shell and posterity brings with it a new spirit to inhabit it. Rome on its own is hollow but it takes the spirit of the people to make it hallowed. Rome does not stand on its own but within the context of power, politics, and religion. This hermitage did not only include the buildings of Rome but to the power structures. As the Etruscans declined, the Romans ascended, as the kings declined, the republic ascended, as the roman empire declined Catholicism ascended. This pattern of power structures declining and ascending is well reflected in the reuse of space by the Roman people;temples became churches, palaces became museums, baths became ruins, basilicas became basilicas. Depending on who held power and influence the buildings would change and so would the city. We may not have the emperors of old but we have the popes, we may not have the senators of old but we have the prime ministers, we may not have the Rome of yore but we have Rome nonetheless. People have come to Rome for millennia for their own ascension; personal, political, spiritual, or what have you. They come to experience a heightened experience of human existence. Today even I partook in this ascension. As I climbed the Holy Stairs on my knees I reflected on the innumerable pilgrims that had come before. People of every color, tongue, nation, and even creed have flocked to this very sight to experience something greater than themselves. The potential unity of all humanity is very represented in Rome. Maybe that's the current spirit of Rome. To call the world to a place where anyone can enjoy. Whether one takes pleasure in art, music, history, politics, spirituality, people, or food they will find a place in Rome. Perhaps ascension is not enough to explain this but rather transcendence. To transcend our human coil that is bound by fear and ignorance and become enlightened by our common humanity and our common pleasures. Whether this spirit of Rome shall remain or again make a turn over remains to be seen. All I know is Rome gives me hope for the world and all who inhabit it. I love this hermit kingdom and our common ascension... our common transcendence.