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Melancholy of the antique world: Forum |
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written
by minhan / 10.24.2005 |
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| melancholy of the antique world |
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Part 1: |
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Before I can even start on looking at the meaning of the “melancholy of the antique world,” I feel like I must try to define what I am looking for as to the meaning of word. My first instinctive picture when I hear the word is a picture of an old man hunched over with a pained look that seems to stem from not something physical but something worse. He has an unexplainable solemn feeling that takes over not just his mind but also his whole body. What is the cause of his sorrows? Not everyone feels this, even in their whole lifetime. Although most at some time will. The feeling is reserved for only the most important of things; something that one feels so strongly about and connected to that the thought of anything else brings about the unspeakable pain.
Imagining the time of the antique world and the way of life, I see a deeper and stronger trust in the common people to history, leaders, and beliefs, which in turn produces a closer dependence on each other and a stronger connection. The Forum shows this idea because it was the center of Rome, where decisions were made, where beliefs were kept strong, and where people came to unite as a community in times of happiness and tragedy. The Roman beliefs were still rooted on success of the country as a whole rather than the salvation of an individual. The Forum and what it represented was something that had meaning to the people, something that was still tangible in their minds. Unlike modern times, I feel like we are more distant to each other and higher authority. Human nature and the knowledge of past events have made us more skeptical and cautious, questioning everything we hear. The meaning of just and fair seems like an idea in a fairy tale. Many don’t have the trust, belief, or confidence in their government as what the public had during the antique time. Also the ancient people cared more about the struggle of justice while now people especially in the developed world are quite numb to their way of living and do not necessarily have those moments of intense emotion towards a strong belief. Only when there is intense emotion, will there be fuel or sustenance to cause the immense pain towards a loss or change of the object that caused this emotion. Therefore it seems like the Forum and what it represented had more power over the people and only spurred the rallying and unifying emotions of the people than any building or idea now has, and its this characteristics that enable the “melancholy of the antique world” to be much more meaningful and deeper than that of modern times.
It seems like the antique world had much to lose and when I see the ruins today, I feel more pained that that way of life have been reduced to what I see before me. Crumbled columns scattered about that gives me a glimpse of what glamour stood there at one time. The remnants are the last attempt to securely show what it was like back then and what was lost as these remnants degraded to what it is today. Modern times, although there is the harsh brutality of people there was an even worse brutality back then. It seems like we individually are more apathetic and just plain do not care and this stems our deceit and violence towards others in our own nation and other nations too. While during the antique world, they cared about their country as a whole and wanted the best for it and was more invested in their emotions that their actions was driven my intense emotions rather than lack there of.
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Part 2: |
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Heading to Pompeii, I already had an image of the destruction caused by the eruption. The rubbles there would be just like the Forum showing the grandeur of what had been. However, once on site, that preconceived image was gone. Seeing the remains, the fairly intact buildings in their original positions, the bodies in the exact position of their instant death was something I had not expected. The destruction was not made from corruption but from a natural disaster, where no one was spared, affecting all indiscriminately.
Pompeii became more than just a destroyed city but more of the melancholy of the much too soon death of the inhabitants and their last thoughts as the inevitable loss approached. Walking around and seeing the shops along the street, frozen in time, positioned similar to the narrow streets in modern times, showed how normal the ancient Romans were, living their daily life, going through their routines just like any person throughout history. It made me realize how people over time do not change that much; all have the same wants and necessity, to lead a happy life, have shelter, food, and a feeling of belonging.
The Forum only represents the few, the high leaders, an idea while Pompeii showed more what was at cost when destruction occurred. The loss of the meeting area for the people does not rank up to the loss of the very people themselves.
Porta Maggiore is another ancient architecture with this theme of melancholy of the loss of community and unity. Standing before it, what great impression it must have had to all that entered through. Its great scale depicts the protection of all that were allowed to enter and join the community within. However, now the only way you can cross under the entryway is by entering a small opening of a gated area. The great entrance is overshadowed by the busy wide streets, no longer welcoming visitors into a close community.
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