Thousands of years ago, stone columns were created to replace wooden ones that were susceptible to fire and rotting. Despite their original purpose, simply to bear the load of the roof overhead, they have since become works of art. They are also a symbol of wealth and prestige and are a standard feature of many capitals, palaces, and homes of the wealthy.
Temple of Hercules in AthensColumns in Karnak Temple in Luxor, EgyptThe Roman Forum in Rome
If you mention columns to most people, images of ancient Rome and Greece probably come to mind, but Egypt is also one of the first places to use columns as well. In fact, during our time in Egypt, we found the columns there to be some of the most interesting features of the temples that we visited. Obviously, there is nothing like walking in the Acropolis in Athens and seeing the columns on those ancient temples as well. Walking through the Roman Forum in Rome is literally a path that takes you through a series of ancient columns, some standing and some fallen.
Large Columns at the Acropolis in Athens, GreeceUnique Columns in Luxor, EgyptRoman Columns Reaching Towards the Sky
Regardless of where you find them, columns are an interesting piece to any architecture. Whether you consider them to be structural or artistic in nature, they are often the only thing to survive the ravages of time.
Beautiful LinesSingle Column in Karnak TempleIs it Art?
The Piazza Navona is a famous square in Rome that was built on the site of an ancient, open space stadium from the 1st century. Today it is busy with local artists, restaurants and cafes, local residents, and tourists. With its large Egyptian obelisk, the Fountain of the Four Rivers demands attention in the center of piazza. The square was defined as a public space in the 15th century where it hosted the city market. Later, during the reign of the pontificate of Innocent X, the square became significant for its Baroque architecture with the focal point being his family palace, the Palazzo Pamphili.
Fountain of the Four Rivers and the PalaceObelisk and the Bell TowerUnique Statues
There are two other fountains in the square, one on the southern end of the square being the Fontana del Moro, which has four Tritons sculpted by Giacomo della Porta, and on the northern end is Fountain of Neptune. Even at night, the Fountain of the Four Rivers is beautiful to see as the basin is lit up to highlight the statues at the base of the obelisk. Crowds remain in the piazza well into the evening, especially on warmer nights. We stayed at a boutique hotel that was situated on the square, so we had wonderful views of the people enjoying the beautiful area.
Palace DomeFountain at NightBeautiful Statues
If you enjoy people watching, then the piazza, with its outdoor cafes, is a perfect location for you. At one point, we even watched as a marching band of children marched passed the fountains. There are also street artists playing music and a variety of painters offering unique paintings of famous sites in Rome. During our time there, we always saw people sitting on the benches and eating a meal, however we chose to have a glass of wine at several of the locally owned restaurants.
Marching BandPalacePalace Bell Tower
Perhaps this square is not as well known as some other locations in Rome, but it is certainly a top place to visit when coming to the city. It was featured in Dan Brown’s Angels and Demons and several scenes from the film adaptation were filmed in the piazza. With all of the local restaurants in the surrounding streets as well as the square itself, it is a great place to spend a few hours and relax in the bustling city.
Traveling, especially throughout Europe, allows you to see how difficult it is to keep time from eroding everything that is man made. Rain, wind, hail, sleet, and snow take their toll on everything from buildings, bridges, monuments, and statues. Of all of those, seeing the statues that have had pigeons perched upon their shoulders, bronze faces turned green, and stone limbs turning black, feels especially sad at times. If you look into their eyes, you can almost see their sadness, the desire that someone would restore them to their original beauty. You can almost imagine them watching as hundreds of years worth of visitors pass by them, feeling trapped in their frozen bodies, unable to communicate to us. This week’s Daily Post Photo Challenge is Weathered and we have chosen photos of statues from throughout Europe that have survived the ravages of time, but not without it having taken its toll.
Statue Outside of a Castle in Koblenz, GermanyStatue of Goethe in Vienna, AustriaSnow Covered Statue in Bucharest, RomaniaSoldier Riding Horse in Cologne, GermanyStatue on the Charles Bridge in Prague, Czech RepublicStatue in the Streets of Florence, ItalyStatue on the Grounds of Trinity College in Dublin, IrelandStatue in a Fountain in Heidelberg, GermanyAnother Statue in Snowy Bucharest, Romania
