Get Ready for Rome
197 episodes - English - Latest episode: 9 days ago - ★★★★★ - 54 ratingsGet Ready for Rome helps the thoughtful traveler prepare to visit the Eternal City by introducing the city’s main monuments and the sometimes acrimonious dialogue they imply. Add value to your visit to Rome by getting to know in advance the ideas and history that stand behind St. Peter’s Basilica, the Colosseum, the Sistine Chapel and other familiar but put poorly understood sites of one of the world’s greatest cities.
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Episodes
108. From the Cattle Market to the Palatine and from Aeneas to Romulus
April 18, 2024 17:00 - 15 minutes - 11.3 MBAfter two episodes on the Forum Boarium, we move up to the Palatine Hill. At the same time, we move from Rome’s distant prehistory and Aeneas to its founding by his descendant Romulus, the son of Mars. Later still, Caesar and his adopted son Augustus presented Aeneas and Romulus as precursors of the Caesars.
107. The Two Temples of the Forum Boarium
April 05, 2024 21:29 - 14 minutes - 10.6 MBThe two temples in the Forum Boarium as illustrations of Rome’s cultural flux over the ages.
106. The Forum Boarium and Rome's Mythical Prehistory
March 27, 2024 20:38 - 17 minutes - 12.6 MBThere is scant evidence regarding the prehistory of Rome, but the Romans supplied this defect by handing down and codifying engaging myths. Today we visit the Forum Boarium, where Rome’s distant ancestors met and began to form the people from whom the Romans would descend, or so at least Livy and Virgil tell us.
105. The Making of Modern Italy
March 17, 2024 10:00 - 13 minutes - 10.7 MBToday is March 17, the anniversary of the proclamation of the birth or making of modern Italy. It seems strange to me that this anniversay is largely overlooked, so I invite listeners to think for a moment about its meaning.
104. Where are we?
May 02, 2023 13:05 - 17 minutes - 13.9 MBIf the Sistine Chapel reflected the moral vision of Christian Rome, is there any such coherent view in Modern Rome of how we humans should understand our purpose and live our lives?
103. A Pope's View of a Modern Problem
January 17, 2023 14:55 - 21 minutes - 16.8 MBPopes have frequently attacked the moral, political, and intellectual developments that gave birth to modern Italy. On the occasion of the death of Pope Benedict, we today review his controversial Regensburg Address to see what it says about modern Rome.
102. The Secularism of Modern Rome
December 29, 2022 22:35 - 22 minutes - 16.6 MBWe return today to the "secular" or non-religious character of modern Rome in order to see more clearly how much the Rome of the People has changed from the Rome of the Popes.
101. Michelangelo's Last Judgment
December 15, 2022 17:03 - 23 minutes - 18.6 MBToday we introduce Michelangelo's "Last Judgment," his vast fresco painted on the altar wall of the Sistine Chapel.
100. The Four Corners of Michelangelo's Sistine Ceiling
December 01, 2022 19:38 - 24 minutes - 19 MBThe four Pendentives of Michelangelo's Ceiling of the Sistine Chapel represent four different dramatic stories from the Old Testament. What are these stories, and what do they teach?
99. The Subjects Represented on Michelangelo's Sistine Ceiling
November 17, 2022 13:18 - 24 minutes - 17.8 MBWe know that Michelangelo's painting of the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel was an extraordinary achievement, but what subjects does he represent and what teaching do they convey?
98. The Design of the Sistine Ceiling
November 03, 2022 23:23 - 23 minutes - 17.8 MBMichelangelo used painted architecture and numerous nudes to divide the Sistine Chapel ceiling into separate panels and give it a complex design. Today we summarize the elaborate arrangement he came up with.
97. Botticelli’s Facing Frescoes in the Sistine Chapel
October 20, 2022 16:51 - 21 minutes - 16.3 MBMichelangelo dominates the Sistine Chapel, but the chapel's walls feature twelve frescoes by the previous generation of great Florentine artists. We look at two by Botticelli as an introduction to all twelve.
96. Reintroducing the Sistine Chapel
October 07, 2022 22:16 - 21 minutes - 16.7 MBWe return for a second introduction to the Sistine Chapel and outline some of the main challenges Michelangelo had to overcome in painting the ceiling.
II.9 The Overlooked Side Walls of the Sistine Chapel
July 14, 2022 16:00 - 20 minutes - 14.6 MBThis episode introduces the twelve frescoes on the side walls of the Sistine Chapel, which invite a comparison between the lives and laws of Moses and Jesus.
95. The Overlooked Side Walls of the Sistine Chapel
July 14, 2022 16:00 - 20 minutes - 14.6 MBThis episode introduces the twelve frescoes on the side walls of the Sistine Chapel, which invite a comparison between the lives and laws of Moses and Jesus.
94. Introducing the Sistine Chapel
June 30, 2022 16:00 - 21 minutes - 16.6 MBWe today make a first visit to the Sistine Chapel and look generally at the three different waves of Renaissance frescoes that decorated it. Two of these are by Michelangelo.
2.8 Introducing the Sistine Chapel
June 30, 2022 16:00 - 21 minutes - 16.6 MBWe today make a first visit to the Sistine Chapel and look generally at the three different waves of Renaissance frescoes that decorated it. Two of these are by Michelangelo.
2.7 Lanciani and the Disappearance of Ancient Rome
June 16, 2022 16:00 - 22 minutes - 18.1 MBThe difficulty of seeing Ancient Rome is that not much of it exists. The distinguished archeologist Rodolfo Lanciani documents this, and today we compare his ways of explaining its disappearance with those of Edward Gibbon.
93. The Disappearance of Ancient Rome (Part II Lanciani)
June 16, 2022 16:00 - 22 minutes - 18.1 MBThe difficulty of seeing Ancient Rome is that not much of it exists. The distinguished archeologist Rodolfo Lanciani documents this, and today we compare his ways of explaining its disappearance with those of Edward Gibbon.
2.6: D-Day and the Liberation of Rome, June 1944
June 07, 2022 00:02 - 24 minutes - 18.8 MBAmerican troops liberated Rome from German occupation just 2 days before D-Day. What made it possible, and why did the liberation occur when it did?
92. D-Day and the Liberation of Rome, June 1944
June 07, 2022 00:02 - 24 minutes - 18.8 MBAmerican troops liberated Rome from German occupation just 2 days before D-Day. What made it possible, and why did the liberation occur when it did?
2.5 The Destruction of Ancient Rome (Part I Gibbon)
June 02, 2022 16:00 - 21 minutes - 16.9 MBWe have taken an introductory look at the reasons Paganism was replaced Christianity, but why have so many of the magnificent buildings the pagans built simply disappeared? Was it simply the work of time? We begin today with Gibbon's answer to this question.
91. The Destruction of Ancient Rome (Part I Gibbon)
June 02, 2022 16:00 - 21 minutes - 16.9 MBWe have taken an introductory look at the reasons Paganism was replaced Christianity, but why have so many of the magnificent buildings the pagans built simply disappeared? Was it simply the work of time? We begin today with Gibbon's answer to this question.
II.4 Gibbon on the Destruction of Paganism
May 19, 2022 16:00 - 22 minutes - 16.4 MBWe today consider Gibbon’s explanation of how the Christians of Constantine’s century advanced their faith by taking active measures against paganism. As he makes his case, Gibbon also extends his unflattering portrait of the followers of the new faith, perhaps to weaken their successors in his own day.
90. Edward Gibbon on the Destruction of Paganism
May 19, 2022 16:00 - 22 minutes - 16.4 MBWe today consider Gibbon’s explanation of how the Christians of Constantine’s century advanced their faith by taking active measures against paganism. As he makes his case, Gibbon also extends his unflattering portrait of the followers of the new faith, perhaps to weaken their successors in his own day.
II 3 Edward Gibbon on the Christianization of Rome
May 05, 2022 15:29 - 25 minutes - 19.1 MBEdward Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire advances five causes for the early Christians' triumph over their pagan and Hebrew rivals. This podcast discusses them.
89. Edward Gibbon on the Christianization of Rome
May 05, 2022 15:29 - 25 minutes - 19.1 MBEdward Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire advances five causes for the early Christians' triumph over their pagan and Hebrew rivals. This podcast discusses them.
II.2 Constantine and the Christianization of Rome
April 21, 2022 16:05 - 24 minutes - 18.6 MBAfter noting the contradictory ways Constantine is remembered in Roman art and architecture, we turn to the main policies of this first Christian Emperor.
88. Constantine and the Christianization of Rome
April 21, 2022 16:05 - 24 minutes - 18.6 MBAfter noting the contradictory ways Constantine is remembered in Roman art and architecture, we turn to the main policies of this first Christian Emperor.
87. Trailer: Season 2 of Get Ready for Rome
March 31, 2022 16:00 - 16 minutes - 13.5 MBThis short podcast reviews our goals and announces the beginning of our second season on April 21. The subject will be Rome, Constantine, and the Christianization of the Roman Empire.
1 Trailer: Season 2 of Get Ready for Rome
March 31, 2022 16:00 - 16 minutes - 13.5 MBThis short podcast reviews our goals and announces the beginning of our second season on April 21. The subject will be Rome, Constantine, and the Christianization of the Roman Empire.
86. Looking Ahead at Get Ready for Rome
November 12, 2021 17:35 - 22 minutes - 18 MBI today announce that I've begun taking a break that I hope will also help me get ready for a new season of podcasts, and I summarize the topics and issues that lie ahead.
Looking Ahead at Get Ready for Rome
November 12, 2021 17:35 - 22 minutes - 18 MBI today announce that I've begun taking a break that I hope will also help me get ready for a new season of podcasts, and I summarize the topics and issues that lie ahead.
85. A Lesson from Venice
October 26, 2021 16:00 - 21 minutes - 17 MBTravel can be educational, as our many study abroad programs affirm, but my recent return to Venice got me wondering whether it can also be misleading.
A Lesson from Venice
October 26, 2021 16:00 - 21 minutes - 17 MBTravel can be educational, as our many study abroad programs affirm, but my recent return to Venice got me wondering whether it can also be misleading.
84. Five Little Lessons from my Recent Return to Rome Mini Pod
October 21, 2021 16:00 - 12 minutes - 9.72 MBThis short Mini Pod makes five points based on a recent trip to Rome and towns in northern Italy.
Five Little Lessons from my Recent Return to Rome
October 21, 2021 16:00 - 12 minutes - 9.72 MBThis short Mini Pod makes five points based on a recent trip to Rome and towns in northern Italy.
83. On Returning from Rome, Part II
October 19, 2021 16:00 - 22 minutes - 18.3 MBIn this second report on my return from three weeks in Italy, I consider some evidence suggesting Rome is as postmodern as it is modern.
On Returning from Rome, Part II
October 19, 2021 16:00 - 22 minutes - 18.3 MBIn this second report on my return from three weeks in Italy, I consider some evidence suggesting Rome is as postmodern as it is modern.
Stepping Outside of Central Rome
October 14, 2021 16:00 - 13 minutes - 10.5 MBToday we venture beyond the central core of Rome to survey the most important sites on Rome’s periphery.
82. Stepping Outside of Central Rome
October 14, 2021 16:00 - 13 minutes - 10.5 MBToday we venture beyond the central core of Rome to survey the most important sites on Rome’s periphery.
On Returning from Rome
October 12, 2021 16:00 - 21 minutes - 16.4 MBI've just returned from a three-week trip to Italy, and I here begin a retrospective look at our travels, which were not much affected by COVID.
81. On Returning from Rome
October 12, 2021 16:00 - 21 minutes - 16.4 MBI've just returned from a three-week trip to Italy, and I here begin a retrospective look at our travels, which were not much affected by COVID.
80. Getting Ready for the Vatican and Trastevere
October 07, 2021 16:00 - 11 minutes - 9.05 MBToday we survey the main sites to visit in Trastevere and in the area around the Vatican, an important step in preparing for a visit.
Getting Ready for the Vatican and Trastevere
October 07, 2021 16:00 - 11 minutes - 9.05 MBToday we survey the main sites to visit in Trastevere and in the area around the Vatican, an important step in preparing for a visit.
79. Exploring Rome's Campus Martius
September 30, 2021 16:00 - 14 minutes - 10.8 MBCentered on the Pantheon and Piazza Navona, the Campus Martius is for good reason Rome’s most popular zone. Today we note its main sites to visit.
Exploring Rome's Campus Martius
September 30, 2021 16:00 - 14 minutes - 10.8 MBCentered on the Pantheon and Piazza Navona, the Campus Martius is for good reason Rome’s most popular zone. Today we note its main sites to visit.
78. Three More Hills! Mini Pod
September 23, 2021 16:00 - 12 minutes - 9.9 MBToday we review the sites on the Quirinal, Viminal, and Esquiline Hills, which are not so much hills as ridges that meet in the area of the Termini Train Station. They offer a rich mix of Ancient, Christian, and Modern monuments.
Three More Hills!
September 23, 2021 16:00 - 12 minutes - 9.9 MBToday we review the sites on the Quirinal, Viminal, and Esquiline Hills, which are not so much hills as ridges that meet in the area of the Termini Train Station. They offer a rich mix of Ancient, Christian, and Modern monuments.
77. Getting to know the “Capitoline Zone” of Rome
September 16, 2021 16:00 - 8 minutes - 6.43 MBToday we inventory the main sites in the area near the Capitoline Hill, including the Forum and the Colosseum. This is an essential first step toward choosing what is most important to visit in this zone of Rome.