quote:

ORIGINAL: vincentML

quote:

but the city of Rome itself was no part of it (at least for most of the time) - it was the capital of the papal state until the Risorgimento of Italy

Which Pius IX futily resisted. Some people just don't know when to quit. Was that not when the final whimper occurred and the world was left with a masquerade in flowing robes and pointed hats? Nevermind Benito's delusion. No matter how you parse the words or slice the kings I think there is something to be said for the notion that the heart of Ancient Rome beats faintly in the catacombs of the Vatican. Oh, for those good old days, hey, Benedict?

quote:

ORIGINAL: missiesfavourite

quote:

ORIGINAL: vincentML

quote:

but the city of Rome itself was no part of it (at least for most of the time) - it was the capital of the papal state until the Risorgimento of Italy

Which Pius IX futily resisted. Some people just don't know when to quit. Was that not when the final whimper occurred and the world was left with a masquerade in flowing robes and pointed hats? Nevermind Benito's delusion. No matter how you parse the words or slice the kings I think there is something to be said for the notion that the heart of Ancient Rome beats faintly in the catacombs of the Vatican. Oh, for those good old days, hey, Benedict?

I think one needs very very good ears to hear the heartbeat of ancient Rome in the catacombs ...

but maybe you rather hear this:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rome_Metro

nonetheless no matter how far one might try to prolong the history of Rome as a political entity it took some 1200 years for the west and 2200 years for the east even without (and without translatio imperii)

quote:

ORIGINAL: FMRFGOPGAL

All very allegory my friend. Everyone knows that shortly after his defeat in 1977, Idi Amin declared himself CBE (Conqueror of the British Empire). If I wanted to be a birther, I would simply have to declare you all Ugandans[:D]

There... Now you've had a taste of modern neoconservative America.