Three talks about different aspects of Rome from well-known Stuart Harvey.

1. Heart of an Empire  

Overlooked by the Palatine and Capitoline Hills, the Roman Forum was the social, political, commercial, religious and legal heart of the city of Rome, and by default the entire Roman Empire. Professional Rome tourist guide Stuart Harvey will lead you on a voyage of discovery through the ruins of the Forum to discover the fascinating stories behind the triumphal arches, temples, basilicas and other surviving structures, explaining how and why certain parts survived and others did not.

This lecture will introduce you to gods, goddesses and demi-gods of the Roman religion; the legal and commercial procedures of the ancient city, and of course the governmental structure as we visit the Curia, or Senate House. We will also see the place of the cremation of Julius Caesar and discover how his death ultimately brought about the end of the Roman Republic and the beginning of Empire

2. Roman Infrastructure 

What made Rome great was as much its infrastructure as its military commanders and legionnaires. Without aqueducts bringing fresh water the city could never have reached a million people. Without roads and bridges military security and trade on such a vast scale would not have been possible. And without walls, which still stand today, the city would have been defenceless. To that we must add the logistics of food distribution, waste management and drainage, making a fascinating lecture about how Ancient Rome worked as a city.

3. Bread & Circuses - Secrets of the Colosseum

The Colosseum is arguably the most famous ruin of Roman times, yet so much is misunderstood about its purpose and the games that took place there. Stuart  will reveal the true history of the Colosseum, or as it was originally named, the Flavian Amphitheatre, cutting away the urban myths and Hollywood fantasy to get at the reality of the games that entertained the Ancient Romans. We will discover the origins of gladiator fights, and how they changed to become such a popular entertainment for the masses, along with the spectacular animal hunts that were also staged in  the amphitheatre. We will learn how the Roman architects and engineers were able to build such a huge structure in just 8 years, and equally importantly the political reasons why it was built. 

Today only half the Colosseum remains and we will trace its decline after the fall of Rome to discover why half of it is missing, and finally bringing us to the surprising reason why it was finally preserved, and why the Pope himself uses it for a religious service once a year.