How UD Will Take Inspiration from Ancient Rome!
Keeping with the theme of this year’s Charity Week centered on Ancient Rome, let’s take a look at how UD could integrate some of the key aspects of Roman life on campus! There are a lot of great aspects of Roman culture that UD should be inspired by and model our campus after.
One of the most famous monuments to Roman society is their roads. Roads so famous that they inspired the saying, “all roads lead to Rome—” and some of these are still functional today. In fact the Via Appia runs right by the Due Santi campus! In the spirit of great roads, UD should repair all the sidewalks and potholes on campus!
The Pantheon is perhaps one of the most famous buildings still standing from ancient Rome! It began as a second century Roman temple, but now it has been converted into a Catholic church. It is most famous for its round structure, and its oculus providing sunlight, and is perhaps one of the most influential architectural structures of Rome.
UD could copy this more traditional style of architecture and add our own oculus to campus.
Perhaps President Sanford could add an oculus to Braniff to allow for open air studying, or maybe add one to our chapel as well.
As anyone who’s taken Art and Arch with Dr. Robinson knows that Rome was also renowned for a variety of art. To replicate the classical beauty of antiquity, the Art Village could incorporate a marble carving and bronze casting into the sculpture department. The upper-level painting classes could include an elective on fresco painting. With this new initiative, perhaps classical art will hang one day on the drab walls of Gorman and Haggar.
Another feat of Roman engineering were their aqueducts, built with mathematical precision, pleasing aesthetics and accessibility of clean water to the people of Rome. Due to the water issues in Madonna and Augustine Hall, this year’s Big Event could be building an aqueduct spanning from Lewisville Lake all the way to the freshman-style dorms. UD would have to consult outside engineers, but the project could repurpose the bricks from the mall into this new project.
With clean water from their aqueducts, the Romans created bathhouses and then added gymnasiums. Following their example, UD’s gym should expand onto the sport court for a traditional approach to fitness. Additionally UD’s Ultimate Frisbee could try switching out their regular frisbees for discus throwing in their scrimmage games.
As any Romer knows, you can’t walk through the Eternal City without seeing an Obelisk in a piazza. Obelisks were used throughout Rome as both physical landmarks and as a symbol of the might of the empire’s conquering force. There is even an obelisk in the Vatican, marking the endurance of Christianity despite persecution. Staying on the theme of renovations, the Tower could be reshaped into an obelisk and the Classics department could inscribe the sides with UD’s history in both Latin and Egyptian Hieroglyphs.
Viva Rome, Viva UD! We can’t wait to see what might happen on campus next!
Sophie del Mazo is a Senior History major with ethics and ceramics concentrations.