Colosseum

The Colosseum Rome, Italy

The Colosseum at dusk

Colosseum (Flavian Amphitheatre)

The Iconic Symbol of the Imperial Rome.

Built “between” 70 – 80 AD; for fulfilling the sadistic pleasure of the rulers of the Erstwhile Roman Empire; the Colosseum is the biggest structure (it is an amphitheatre) built in the Roman Empire. The size of Colosseum was such (165feet in height and 200 feet in length) that it could easily accommodate 50,000 spectators; all well segregated based on their status. The emperor was seated in separate cabin while Senators and people of high social status occupied the front rows. Ordinary men (who formed the majority) sat behind them and women just behind them.

Colossus with Nero’s head!

Nero - Roman Emperor image courtsey: pictopia.com

It was Vespacin the Roman Emperor who constructed this elliptical (with perfect oval shape) theatre. Titus Flavius Vespacianus, (69-79) was the founder of the Flavian dynasty the theatre is named as Flavian Amphitheatre after his family name. A giant bronze statue of Colossus was there on the front of the theatre, later Emperor Nero (none other than that gentleman who fiddled when Rome burnt!) replaced its head and with a replica of his own head! It remains as a strange fact that the theatre later came to be known by the name of the statue of Colossus, and later got corrupt to become Colosseum! Eventually this statue was taken away to be melted.

That outlived the Empire.

Map of medieval Rome depicting the Colosseum

The Colosseum is not just a colossal structure situated at the heart of Rome; it was companion to the history of the great Roman Empire which boldly outlived the Empire facing all strives and tribulations associated with the fall of the Empire. As a venue for some of the most brutal events ever taken place in the history of the world and as a structure standing witness for about twenty centuries; the Colosseum has got a lot of stories to tell, the, existence and fall of the great Roman Empire is just one among them, how many emperors have ruled over it; how many perished, how many executions, how many duels, and how many people were thrown before lions for entertaining the spectators? All stories of extreme power sheer greed.

Commodes the butcher-emperor!

The ‘Shows’ held in this amphitheatre were astoundingly real, duels were fought either to kill or die; most often rivals were not matching; when one was trained and armed gladiator his opponents may either a prisoner of war or a convicted person without any arms. Programs are all prearranged and begin when the Emperor takes his seat; various items are performed as if in a circus. Rich and noble people had trained slaves by name ‘gladiators’ who had to fight duels with those of other owners (a trained gladiator being an asset often he is not let to die; for the pleasure of audience some helpless man is left before him to be cut in to pieces). Emperor Commodes was not satisfied by just seeing it, he took part in fights. For him to fight some wounded convicts or invalids may be sent unarmed to the stage and the armed king enjoyed the pleasure of cutting him in to pieces, the king was always victorious; what a show!

Entertainment unleashed!

The Colosseum

The Main and final show may be between two gladiators armed with short swords but Convicted persons and prisoners of war were also forced to ‘fight’ well trained and armed gladiators killing them were just a warm up exercise to the gladiators and a time pass to the viewers. Terror on the face of the victim and his helpless gesticulations when seeing death face to face with death were feast to the sadistic crowd. The stage made of wooden planks had underground chambers from where at times wild animals were unleashed all on a sudden there will be applause when wild animals tore the victims in to pieces! Those gladiators who fought valiantly at times gained applause and request from crowd for his release were sometimes admitted by the emperor, and then the gladiator may be given a wooden sword as a mark of release.

A dream turn nightmare,

At times for a joke the emperor will point a spectator -who was enjoying the show- to his guards; that unfortunate spectator will be forced in to the stage to ‘fight’ a gladiator armed with sword! At times may got gorged by a hungry wild lion released before him all on a sudden, there will be suspense what will be taking place. These are just comedies for the spectators who were not ‘invited’ to the stage! Wild animals like lion, tiger, rhinoceros, hippo etc were imported from as far as Africa and India for the ‘show’ and they were starved for days before the show!

Though mock; what a thrill!

A map of central Rome during the Roman Empire, with the Colosseum at the upper right corner

This amphitheatre; the biggest structure built by the erstwhile Roman Empire was a mute witness of all these dramas unfolded within its walls and outside; spanning a period of 20 long centuries. If these real events were more dramatic than drama itself; Colosseum was venue for real dramas in the medieval period. After the fall of the Empire there were no slaves to be thrown to the lions, no gladiators for duels; Romans got bored and looked to the Colosseum for some entertainment; Colosseum had answers let there be real dramas! Mock- wars, sea-battles, ‘executions’, reenactments of fearsome historical events and what else? Bored Romans sighed in relief; those who (may be their great grand children) so far applauded at real events seeing real blood; got at least some mock events to cheer! The walls of Colosseum began to reverberate with the war cries of gladiators and wails of their victims, though mock; what a thrill!

From work-shop to shrine!

Later this structure had the fortunes and misfortunes to be venue for different ball games; far more different roles! It was used as quarters for the members of some religious sects, as fortress, workshop, as a Christian Shrine (it still has its umbilical chord with the Roman Catholic Church) and what else. The early stages of the consumer culture haunted the Colosseum in form of stone robbers who did not spare this invaluable treasure of a structure; for them it was a mass of stones to be robbed! Its walls still bear the gaping holes from where exquisite brass fittings were plucked off.

Doggy days!

Even nature did not leave it unscathed; several earth quakes, lightning fire; all rocked and ruined this unfortunate building. The scars we now see on the structure are the result of collective work of nature and the stone robbers. Colosseum got robbed, bruised, dismembered, down but not out as it was made of sterner stuff. It though bruised is still capable of attracting more tourists and travelers than anything else in Italy, it should be read along with the lines that Italy is the home of most of the classical works among which the bruised structure stands tall as a challenge.

An end to the nightmares,

The whole world has recognized the value of the Roman city and its pride the Colosseum and the Romans will never let anybody loot or tarnish it anymore. The archeological dept of Italy has been good enough to prevent further damages and for the fortunes of the world the present Colosseum is one of the best preserved World Heritage Site in the world.

Missed the bus!

Original façade of the Colosseum

The Colosseum was built in 70 – 80 AD about 300 years after the original list of the Seven Wonders of the World was compiled (in about 3^rd century BC) and by a narrow margin Colosseum missed the bus to get a seat in the list. Had Colosseum existed at that time it sure would have declared one as its architecture and prominence taken in to account. George

Who lives if Rome and Colosseum die?

English poet George Gordon Lord Byron has sung,

While stands the Colosseum,

Rome shall stand,

When falls the Colosseum,

Rome shall fall;

And when Rome falls

-the whole world.

The above lines show the affection people had towards the holy city of Rome and the Colosseum in particular. please remember that Lord Byron mentioned Colosseum neglecting Vatican and St. Peter’s Basilica, what else is required for the popularity of this towering and enchanting colossus; the Colosseum!.

The Ashoka Pillar of Delhi

The Ashoka Pillar of Delhi

The iron pillar of Delhi

Delhi’s Iron Pillar

Thy riddle is hard to read!

One thousand and six hundred years old, made of pure wrought iron, weighs six tons, 7.375 meters high, standing bare for all these years in the scorching climate of Delhi, no fungus, no rust, no corrosion, nothing could scar even the inscriptions made on it; this pillar literally stands tall as a wonder for the modern man to witness the greatness of his ancestors; who could do what the space-age scientists not. The Iron Pillar of Delhi (also known as Ashoka Iron Pillar) belongs to the ‘Chandragupta 11 –Vikramaditya’ (between 3^rd and 4the century AD) period remains as a riddle even to the modern metallurgists who rack their brains to find out the secret behind the eternal youth of this wrought iron pillar.

In Great Company,

Inscriptions on the iron pillar

The Ashoka Pillar is a plain vertical cylinder like structure up to its 90% of the height, then an inverted bell with flattened pot-like engravings on its top, to crown it all is a platform with Ashoka Chakra Emblem, only that much and no over doings. This pillar is at present placed on a recently built cement platform with iron fencing. The location of the pillar is among the famous Qutub Minar Complex in Mehruli in Delhi. This complex a UNESCO accredited World Heritage Site that houses an array of monuments and buildings built by Qutub din Ayback (the first ruler of the Slave Dynasty) and his following rulers including the British. Along with Qutub Minar and the Ashoka Pillar, there are the Alai Minar, Quwwat ul Islam Mosque, Ala I Darwaza and other numerous archeologically prominent structures. The Ashoka Iron Pillar is not as big as Qutub Minar in size but perhaps more wonderful for its inborn chemistry and history.

Smaller only in size,

The soaring tower of Qutub Minar built in the 12^th century is 72.5 meters tall; it is the tallest brick Minaret in the world. Qutub Minar is 14.3 meters wide in the base and 2.7 meters at the top. Its enormous sand stone walls, projecting balconies and inscriptions have made it India’s pride and it remains as a hot tourist destination. The Ashoka Pillar was brought to Delhi from its original destination in the 13^th century and installed literally in the shades of Qutub Minar. This in no sense makes this pillar in any way ‘smaller’ than the giant Qutub Minar. The Ashoka Pillar is senior to the Minar by ten centuries and bears inscriptions far more valuable to history about the emperors existed thousand years before the makers of the wonderful creations of the Qutub Complex. These inscriptions hail the greatness and valor of one ‘Chandra’ of the Gupta Empire (believed to be Chandagupta Vikramaditya -2; who ruled India between 3^rd and 4^th centuries AD.

The Chemistry,

Why this wrought iron pillar is not affected by rust; when in the extreme climate of Delhi even painted and well sheltered iron materials rust quick? For centuries this question has haunted scientists and metallurgists of the whole world. Chemical analyses of its parts have revealed that the iron that makes it; is of very pure quality with less quantity of carbon. It is high in phosphorus and low in sulfur and manganese. They say that the phosphate form a film that is inert to chemicals and protects the pillar from rusting. If so why all other iron structures need painting and preservation; why they do not form a phosphate film? The iron lost by rusting costs several billions to the world and no scientist has any solution other than galvanizing (zinc coating) and painting that needs periodical doings and not 100% effective at all.

One more riddle,

Translation of the inscription in English.

This Pillar was originally located at the Udayagiri (original name Vishnu pada giri) Cave Complex in Saanchi about 50 km from Bhopal (the city where the great gas leak occurred in December 3, 1984 from the Union Carbide plant that killed about five thousand people). Its original location (Udayagiri) was exactly at the tropic of cancer and some astrological reasons are attributed to be there regarding its installation. In the summer solstice day (when the sun reaches its peak) alone the shadow of the pillar fell directly at the feet of the idol of the temple that existed there. It is yet another riddle like the secret of its non-rusting quality one for astronomers and the other for metallurgists!

Ahoka Chakra –a place in the sun,

The pillar bears the Ashoka Chakra Emblem at its top; which has been adopted by the Government of India when its Tricolor National flag was shaped. The ‘Tricolor’ National flag which bears horizontally placed Orange, White and Green, and Chakra Emblem is in the middle of the white band the Chakra (a blue wheel with 24 spokes) represents movement and vitality; Orange; dedication, White; peace and Green prosperity). A nation with Ashoka Chakra on its national flag means a nation on the rolls and by the great fortune of Indians this biggest democracy has always been on the move ever since.

An old Romeo haunted by lovers!

Somehow centuries back; a rumor spread that hugging and spreading hands around the pillar was auspicious and that would fulfill the wish of the hugger. As the news spread; tourists from around the world who visited the site began to hug this pillar, there were scramble to hug this old pillar! The frenzy reached in such a level that people even began to visit this site to hug this pillar alone and such a violent love affair with the pillar grew to create law and order problems forcing the Archaeological Department to ban hugging the pillar (even this iron pillar began to wear and tear due to persistent hugging; now a steel fence guards this pillar from violent huggers!

Statutory Warning ‘Hugging is injurious to health’!

Fortunately the authorities have not still placed a board nearby stating ‘hugging is injurious to health’ as smoking and drinking are! Bureaucrats if have any ideas of placing such a board beware; they should show the model as stopping hugging altogether not just the Romeo-pillar! This pillar is very old and if its gets some comfort by hugging of beautiful Juliets why ban it? The author rightly think the secret of longevity of this pillar is not phosphate and magnesium but the hugging it got from enchanting womenfolk (serotonin produced during love is help for longevity –a fact even scientists agree!) A request to the visitors if authorities prevent you from hugging; do it each other and make the pillar a happy witness and you a more refreshed tourist as well! Wishing a longer and happier life to the pillar!

Singapore

Singapore the Pearl of the East

Image courtsey: cia.gov

A Phoenix in real life.

Once remained as a fisherman’s village and passed through numerous turbulences of history; Singapore has traveled much to become the world’s fourth largest financial center after London, New York and Tokyo. The name Singapore is for Singa = Lion + pore = pur = land - meaning land of the lion in Malay with its origin in Sanskrit. Singapore was literally burned down by the invading Portuguese in 1613, that later colonized it. But like the phoenix of the legends it arose from its ashes to one of the most happening place in the world.

In the beginning “Tomasek”!

Singapore was earlier known as Tomasek (meaning sea-town) in the early times. It is a group of 63 small islands situated at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. Jurong is the largest among these while Pulau, Tekong, Pulau-Ubin etc are among the major ones. Singapore has a rich culture to its credit ranging from the12^th century, the remnants of its architecture and monuments had been recovered by the archaeologists.

There comes the Empire.

Image courtsey: loc.gov

Singapore was being ruled by the Sultanate of Johore when the Portuguese set it in to flames; the British who came a bit late (in 1819) banished the Portuguese and took control of the islands. It was Sir Stafford Raffles who reached in to a treaty with Sultan Hussein Shah of the Johore dynasty, paving way for an era of British rule in to this land. The British have been helpful in giving this fisherman’s island a modern fit and finish.

Had to be Shonan for a while!

World War II also brought its own perils to this tiny group of islands in the form of Japanese soldiers under General Tomayuki Yamashita in February 15, 1942 they defeated the ill-prepared British army stationed there and took control of the island. After gaining control the Japanese changed the name of Singapore in to “Shonan”, and Singapore had the ill-fate to live with that name until September 12, 1945 when the British recaptured it and got the real name back.

Then “Crown Colony”, with all burdens!

The British granted “Crown Colony” status to this state which meant that the government of Singapore was answerable only to the British Crown; later in August 1965 sovereignty was allowed making it a free state under Lee Kwan Yew. At the time when Lee took over the charge of the “crown colony” in 1959, Singapore was not what it is today, Un-employment, shortage of houses, illiteracy etc were rampant and to crown all these the strife between ethnic groups were also of common occurrence.

Starting from the scratches!

Mr. Lee Kwan Yew was undaunted by all these problems, he started to tackle the challenges head on, with panache and proved to the world that there is nothing un-attainable to one who is bold and committed. Opening up of trade, improvement of infrastructure (port, roads, rail MRT (mass rapid transit) were all something he brought out of his sleeve to tackle poverty and un-employment.

Real revolutions!

Image courtsey: asia-hotel.net

Education was made compulsory and those who violated laws were seriously dealt with frequent ethnic violence which dogged this state were efficiently tackled by iron hands.

Military service was made compulsory to all male citizen, these were just some of his revolutions! Compulsory military service strengthened the forces and made Singapore not a sitting duck to invaders. Mr. Lee’s tenure was rather prolonged 1959 to 1990, these 31 long years were more than enough for Mr. Lee to develop a mere fisherman’s village in to the glittering pearl of South Asia.

He made it clean.

Mr. Lee was stringent in cleanliness, spitting on the roads, littering, polluting etc were All subjected for heavy penalties. As Mr. Lee was aware that only physical hygiene was not enough for a model state as real neatness should be in the minds of its citizen, he sprang upon the corrupt elements and proved to the world that corruption can be banished from government as well as from land itself. As a result Singapore arose as a nation with least corruption in the world; “Transparency International’s” report has declared the same in their report.

There is much to be seen!

Singapore is not just clean it has much to offer for the visitors the well refurbished historical locations, ultramodern buildings which spell class in architecture, well preserved ethnic neighborhoods (China-town, Little India etc), top class museums, the botanical garden with more than 3000 varieties of rare orchids, an undersea aquarium which is similar to a wild safari where fish and a variety of sea animals roam free while spectators are caged in big glass houses!. Bukit Tima Hill is the highest hill and an exclusive tourist location it is about 538 feet in height.

Mind your language!

Almost all languages like Chinese, Tamil, Malay English, Singlish etc are widely used in this land. English has been awarded the official status. “Singlish” is a mixture of local languages with English and was once very popular. Of late it is being discouraged by the government as it has backwardness attached with it.

Expanding sideways!

Land being at high premium nearby sea gets reclaimed when small islands get joined with bigger ones and bridges connect islands together. Singapore is expanding sideways its initial area was about 224 Sq. Miles it is now about 269 Sq. Miles! The onus to upkeep of all the wonders rest on the “Urban Development Authority” which is the government agency for the development works going on, it is to be admitted that the agency is doing a tremendous job. It is Singapore doing a creditable job is only a way of life and not an aberration as is the case elsewhere.

Never learn anything!

It seems strange that the rulers of the third world have studied nothing from the glaring examples of Singapore. They pay occasional visits to Singapore to avail the luxuries, roam all around for sight-seeing and return as ignorant as they were. The money spent by them in this island is waste, as long as they study nothing from them, if they had spent some time to learn any lessons regarding management of a nation from Singapore, the whole world would have been a much better place!

The legacy remains.

Image courtsey: asiatravel.com

Mr. Goh Chok Tang followed Mr. Lee when he relinquished office in 1990 as the second Prime Minister of Singapore. Mr. Hsien Loong the eldest son of Lee arose to be the third Prime Minister in 2004. For the fortune of this island nation both of them followed the foot-steps of Mr. Lee and the “Lee legacy” goes on as usual. As a river sung “men may come and men may go, but I remain for ever!

A good team with a good leader!

The author’s request to the visitors to this island is to enjoy the marvels offered by this island nation and return enlightened to their land, tell it to everybody about what this little nation has achieved through commonsense and hard work. A good team with a good leader is wonderful, and that is Singapore. When a bad team with a good leader is amicable, a good team with a bad leader would be a disaster unfortunately most of the third world nations belong to the third order and hence they remain as third world nations.