Rome episode 2: A History of the Eternal City
In Rome episode 2: A History of the Eternal City, Simon Sebag Montefiore takes us on an extraordinary journey, tracing Rome's tumultuous path as it ascended to become the heart of Western Christendom. This wasn't a simple rise; it was a story marked by transformation, divine gambles, and the powerful pull of new ideas on the lives of citizens, elites, and priests alike.
Rome's shift from a city dedicated to its pantheon of pagan gods to the center of a radical new religion is nothing short of breathtaking. Imagine a city where every corner bustled with tributes to Jupiter, Mars, Venus, and the countless other deities who once shaped Roman culture and identity. These gods were the city's protectors, their temples scattered across the hills and valleys of the capital. Every decision, every law, and every festival echoed with the sacred names of the old gods. Yet slowly, almost imperceptibly at first, this tapestry of belief began to unravel as a new voice entered the crowded streets: the quiet but resolute murmurings of Christianity.
