Today was our group trip to the Capitoline Museum. I gave myself plenty of time to get there. When I arrived at the bus stop a few blocks away, several of my colleagues were already waiting there. The 44 Venezia bus came by after about five minutes, and we were on our way. So far so good. But I realized after I got off the bus that if they hadn't been there I wouldn't have known where to go next. We crossed a very busy road and then had to go through a construction walkway. At no time did I see any big signs saying Capitoline Museum. Because Michelangelo thought it would be more dramatic for people to walk up the stairs and see the piazza, I had no indication from the street that the museum was there. We arrived early, so I had plenty of time to admire his architectural style and the Marcus Aurelius statue in the center.

We looked together at a few items. I was especially intrigued by several Syrian altars. One had Latin with Palmyran Aramaic below and the other was Greek and Aramaic. What was so fascinating is that there was no comparison between what the Latin and Greek said and the Aramaic. The two texts were not only written in a different language but they were culturally and rhetorically worlds apart.

After having a brief (how long does it take to down an espresso) coffee break, we spent a little more time looking at a terra cotta funerary relief from a tomb. Some of our group had sat down on the floor against the wall. After 15 minutes or so a guy came along and told everyone to stand up. Apparently there's a rule about not sitting on the floor in the Capitoline Museum. Many people walked by with badges but it was only this guy who made people stand up. And then he stood by the nearby doorway watching us until we left. One of our members was sitting in one of the window ledges. From what I heard, I think he was writing when the official came by and said, "Just a second" or something like that. The official then said something else to him. Strange experience. I'll add that to my experience in the Sistine Chapel.

One of my favorite rooms in the museum is the Hall of Philosophers. The room is lined with portrait busts of "intellectuals" (to use the term of Paul Zanker in "The Mask of Socrates"), such as poets, playwrights, as well as philosophers. There were many other interesting pieces: the Marcus Aurelius equestrian statue, the large head (plus a hand and a foot) of Constantine, and many, many others.

In the early afternoon we left to go find some lunch. The sight of the Forum down below the hill was very impressive along with the Arch of Septimius Severus and the Temple of Saturn. We happened to walk by the legendary Mamartine prison, which is thought to have held Peter and Paul before their executions.

After a wonderful sandwich of mozzarella cheese on eggplant with olive oil and a cool beverage, we headed for our bus stop. Nearby we came across a kiosk selling t-shirts for 5 euro a piece. They were just what I was looking for. The designs were nice. Better than I've seen in any museum gift shops. Now my family will let me come home, since I'll be bearing gifts. I just hope someone else's kids aren't slaving away in a sweat shop so I can buy my kids cheap gifts.

I worked through my pictures for the day and uploaded them to Snapfish. Some choice ones (with me in them) I upload to my Facebook page. I had a nice selection of pizza for dinner again. I'm wondering how many days it will take for me to get tired of their pizza.

Tomorrow is our last seminar day. We'll hear some more presentations from colleagues. There are several extra-curricular events planned for Friday. Otherwise, after tomorrow morning the seminar will be finished. Because we're only supposed to move in or out on Mondays, I had to wait through the weekend to book my return flight. It's going to be a ten hour flight from Rome to Chicago and then an hour or so to Dayton. As I've been saying, Rome is nice, but Rome isn't home.