Chapter 18
The Heart of Rome
Meanwhile, a half-mile away
Since Vittoria wouldn’t tell him where they were going next, David called up to his brother. “What are we about to see?”
“A column in honor of your favorite Roman emperor, and another fountain, of course,” Donald replied.
“Hadrian?” David replied, excitement in his voice.
Donald stopped in his tracks and turned to regard his brother with confusion. “I thought Marcus Aurelius was your favorite.”
Shrugging, David said, “Well, he was, before we started this Grand Tour. Now that I’ve seen so many of Hadrian’s accomplishments, I fear Marcus Aurelius has fallen to the second spot in my estimation,” he explained.
His eyes suddenly rounded as they entered the Piazza Colonna.
“Is that the Column of Marcus Aurelius?” he asked in awe.
“Indeed. It’s been here since one-ninety-three,” Donald replied. “Carved marble topped with a bronze statue of St. Paul.”
“What are all those columns back there?” Barbara asked, her gaze directed to the west.
“That is Palazzo Wedekind,” Donald replied. “The temple of Marcus Aurelius used to be located there, and that colonnade in front of it originated in Veii but was brought here,” he explained.
In addition to the intricately carved marble column at the center of the piazza, there was a recently restored fountain.
“Is this one of Giacomo Della Porta’s fountains?
” Diana asked, her gaze on the two sets of twin dolphins that had been added at either end of a long, rounded octagonal basin made of pink marble.
“You are correct,” Donald said. “Fontana di Piazza Colonna. This is one of the sixteen fountains he built following the reconstruction of the Acqua Vergine. It was built as a means to supply clean drinking water to Roman residents.”
“From where did they get their water before the fountains were built?” Barbara asked. She sat on the edge of the basin and removed a glove before dipping her hand into the cool water.
“The Tiber,” Nicoletta replied, her shiver an indication she found the idea of drinking water from the river revolting.
“This one is gravity-fed as well, I take it?” David remarked.
“Indeed. That central white marble vasque was placed there only a decade ago,” Donald explained as he refilled his flask.
“The same time the dolphins were added,” he said, pointing to the statues.
The dolphin tails were wrapped around seashells, and water spouted from their mouths.
Around the outer perimeter were sixteen carved lion heads tucked into an indentation that formed a unique shape to the fountain’s basin.
“Compared to what we saw earlier, this one is rather simple,” Helen remarked.
“So as not to detract from the monument,” Donald replied, his gaze following the spiral carvings as they ascended the column.
“Quite an impressive fête of carving,” Randy said.
He had been staring at the column for nearly their entire time in the piazza.
“The story of his campaigns during the Marcomannic Wars,” he added as he studied the scenes depicting battles, sieges, and sacrifices involving the Sarmatians and Germanic tribes.
“Is the Rain Miracle included?” Diana asked, joining her husband to stare at the spiral relief carvings.
“What?”
“The episode when the Roman soldiers were saved from thirst by a rainstorm,” she clarified. She raised a finger. “There it is. About two-thirds of the way up. They say it was Divine Intervention.”
“I cannot believe you can see that clearly enough from all the way down here,” he said. “And that you remember such details from your reading.”
She shrugged. “I cannot help it.”
“Nor do I want you to,” he replied. “Having you on my arm means I don’t have to carry a bunch of books.”
She grinned as they joined the other couples and made their way out of the piazza, heading west.
“We must be nearly done for the day,” David said, his words meant for Vittoria.
“Almost,” she replied.
“Another fountain?”
She lifted a shoulder. “Maybe,” she teased. “But you’ll have to be on your very best behavior.”
He turned his head so quickly to stare at her, his neck made a sound of protest. “I am always on my best behavior, my lady,” he countered.
She directed a quelling glance at him before remaining quiet for the rest of walk.