March 13, 29 B.C Marc Antony and Cleopatra Commit Suicide! Lately things have been very quiet about the young couple Marc Antony and Cleopatra. The lovers had been living together in Cleopatra s Palace in Alexandria for quite some time. They had twins about 10 years ago. The twins were named Cleopatra and Alexander. However two children was not enough for this family so three years later they had another son named Ptolemy. In an interview a few months ago, Cleopatra was asked about her relationship with Octavian and she had said, I don t understand why Octavian hates us so much. He would do anything to take me away from having power. And it was true their family s enemy, Octavian convinced Rome to start a war against Cleopatra. Marc Antony decided to step in and help Cleopatra and they joined armies. Marc Antony wanted to help Cleopatra stay in power because he loved her very much. Unfortunately the two armies put together were no match for Rome. In August, after two long, hard years of fighting Rome had won the war. Marc Antony stabbed himself with a sword. Cleopatra tried to make peace with Octavian but her beauty did not fool him. Cleopatra would have preferred to die rather then be under Octavian s rule. Sadly, she also committed suicide shortly after by having a poisonous serpent bite her. These two people will be greatly missed by many people. They were kind and loving. Their children are very upset about this situation. 7-year-old Ptolemy says, My mom was the best mom anyone could ask for. I will get my revenge on Octavian one day. The twins Cleopatra and Alexander refuse to speak about the situation for legal reasons. Everyone will miss them. This is the last place Marc Antony and Cleopatra were seen together before their death. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/cleopatra-commits-suicide
March 13, 80 A.D A Day at the Coliseum Everyone is gathered today to watch the famous games at the coliseum. Most Romans enjoy watching bloody sports, so today we re going to see professional gladiators fighting. After that we will watch the animals fight and be put to death. Many people come here to have fun but there are a lot of interesting facts hidden behind the walls of this coliseum. This oval shaped, open-air amphitheatre seats about 45,000 people. The coliseum has finally been finished recently after 10 years of building. It was made during the reign of Emperor Vespasian our current ruler. It replaced an old amphitheatre made of wood. The one we have now is much more extravagant. It s made with an estimated 292,000 cartloads of stone. This magnificent building is so big it has about 80 entrances. Today is very hot so hopefully they will put the velarium, or sunshade over the people. This is an image of the Coliseum.
March 13, 180 A.D Life of a Roman Artist Sculpting is my favorite kind of artwork. It s very enjoyable because I like to use my hands to create something beautiful. The most commonly used materials are stone, marble, limestone, and clay. I like using clay because it s very easy to find now in Greece. Many of the sculptures I make represent events that take place in my town. Temples are the most common place you find sculptures because we give them to our Roman G-ds. People are finding ways to mass-produce pottery and I have a feeling sculptures will become less meaningful through the years. It is very popular for someone to copy art that has already been created out of respect. Ever since the Golden Age art has been changed forever. Art used to represent pain and suffering but now most of it represents beauty. When I make a sculpture that involves humans I always make them in a G-d like image. I always pay attention to detail in my artwork. This is my most recent sculpture. Roman Art Romulus to Constantine. By Nancy H. Ramage www.ancientgreece.com/s/sculpture
March 13, 34 A.D Fashion 101 There are so many trends to look forward to in the upcoming year. Many famous Gladiators and Emperors have been wearing a new look that is blowing everyone away. Wild animal skins are the way to go. Designer hides are looking fabulous this season and you can never go wrong by clipping it together with fish bones or thorns. Cloaks and tunics are in style all year round. To add some extra style and comfort, try using pins or broaches to hold it in place. For all the women that have to make their husband s and children s clothing, it stays together longer if you sew it together with animal guts. People are going crazy over this new invention. You can now make or buy colored wool using natural dyes using plants, insects, and even shellfish. This is very rare to find but if you have it you will be the trendiest person around. Leather strapped sandals are also very cute for those hot days when the ground burns your feet. However bare feet do work also. You can never go wrong with accessories. Earrings, bracelets, and necklaces are coming into style. The best material used for these hot items are gold, silver, and ivory. For more fashion tips check out next weeks issue. A typical outfit for a night out in Rome.
Marc Antony and Cleopatra Commit Suicide 1. How did Marc Antony kill himself? 2. How many children did Cleopatra and Marc Antony have together? A Day at the Coliseum 3. About how many people can the Coliseum seat? 4. How many years did it take to build the Coliseum? Life of a Roman Artist 5. What materials are commonly found in Greece? 6. Where is a place many sculptures are found? Fashion 101 7. How do Romans color their clothes? 8. What material is used to hold cloth together?