The Coliseum: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

'While stands the Coliseum, Rome shall stand. When falls the Coliseum, Rome shall fall. And when Rome falls - the world.'

~Lord Byron

This summer, I had the incredible oppourtunity to visit Rome, Italy. Naturally, the Coliseum was the first on the list of places to see: historical, cultural, and simply beautiful, it's rightfully Rome's tourist hotspot. But it also works as the inspiration of the Colesseum where Saba finds herself fighting in the Cage...

Most people know the rough details about the building: an ampitheatre of the Roman times that was mainly used for gladiatorial fighting games. And in truth, that is the gist of it! This is essentially what Saba partakes in, albeit a more futuristic style, but it still links back to this primal behaviour. 

Saba, just like the gladiators from milennia ago, is forced to fight for her freedom. Luckily enough, she doesn't have to go up against beasts ranging from elephants with sharpened tusks to baited bears in the arena. Gladiators did.

One of the most fascinating things I found out about the Coliseum is that beneath it lie numerous tunnels leading to the gladiator schools so that they could get there easily to train. This kind of dedication and, I suppose, desperation to live paints a stark and unnerving picture of life in the Roman Empire. 

What is even more chilling is remembering that this is also what Moira Young's vision of the future contains. History appears to be repeating itself, and like usual, it's not the good bits that are re-occurring. 

Obviously today, this is not a problem. In fact, it's common for concerts to be held just outside the ruins and for thousands of tourists, like me, to trek through it every day. However, with the heat beating down on my back and the dust stirring beneath my feet, it was easy to imagine the Coliseum of the gladiators and the Colosseum of Hopetown.

Rome's a trip I'd recommend to anyone! The history of the city and the way it had influenced modern society and how it will continue to do so never failed to astound me. And the ice cream is to die for!

~Ella