Oriskany (CV 34) - Naval Cruise Book

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Within the walls of Rome, magnificent churches stood at almost every square. The Pantheon, earliest used to worship all the Roman gods long before the birth of Christ, was shut down as a pagan temple in 390 A.D. Later, in 609 A.D., it was consecrated as a Christian church. Today it symbolizes the religious life of Rome in its change from paganism to Chris- tianity. Most impressive of the old Roman buildings was the Colos- seum, an arena seating 40,000 to 50,000 persons when it was finished in the year 80 A.D. Its shows and circuses often lasted 100 days. Traditionally, many Christian martyrs died there. The Roman Forum stood between the Palatine and Capitoline hills. Columns, pediment and masonry were all that were left. Oriskany sailors also saw the Baths of Caracalla, the walls and gates of the ancient city, the Trajan column and the Arch of Constantine. Meanwhile modern Rome tried to match the monuments ofthe past. The Memorial to Victor Emmanuel rose in marble and gilt in front of the Forum. Clean lines of the new railroad station displayed a utilitarian beauty. There was, however, no hypnosis by the past. Life moved swiftly and with laughter in commerce and entertainment. Restaurants glittered and night clubs were subdued for Roman in- timacy. Sailors, trying to sat- isfy the urge for knowing the Eternal City within three days, seldom slept before dawn. alleries Michelangelo designed the magnificent dome of St. Peter's ' 0 Roman copy ot a Greek statue Upper-The tour party appreciated fresh air after the dank atmosphere below in the Vatican G - - Lower-Early Christians buried their dead in these underground crypt:

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The Vatican had its own police and the world-famous Swiss Guard. to power in the city of Rome in the spectator. Above is the Victor and below the Arch of Constantine. The Eternal City . . . W .-4 The foundation of Rome is veiled in the myths of ancient time. HE feet of pilgrims and tourists over the centuries have helped level off the original seven hills of Rome. During the summer, parties of Oriskany oflicers and men joined the throngs oi visitors on four occasions, twice from Naples and twice from Genoa. Some of the sailors made the trip two or three times. Since the days 3,000 years ago, when Rome was founded, the city has expanded to cover two more hills. Une of the ad- ditions, Vatican Hill, aroused the curiosity of every sailor. Unlike most other cities in the Mediterranean area, Home pulled at the spirit as well as the mind and body. The golden dome of St. Peter's dominated the hills although it stood in Vatican City, an independent state governed by the Pope. Pope Pius XII personally welcomed Oriskany sailors at audiences on two of the tours. Swiss guards, in uniforms of blue, red and yellow designed by Michelangelo, escorted His Holiness. A Pontilical Palace of 1,000 rooms, within the Vatican'S 109 acres, contained some of the worldis greatest works of aff- ln the Sistine Chapel, exclusively for the Pope's use, the Wi1llS and ceilings were covered by works of Michelangelo, Botticellif and other famous painters. The library was a scholaris delight, with its ancient manuscripts and books in many languages The first Oriskany party to Rome saw a double canonization ceremony at St. Peteris. The Basilica sparkled with lights. The Pope olliciated at both the ceremony and the later lVlass. Saint- hood was bestowed on two nuns, one from France and the other from northern Italy. In the meadows outside the city, sailors visited the Catacombs oi San Callisto, one of the burial places of early Christians. According to guides, Catacombs were also used by the folloW6f5 of other religions.

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The Collosseum. From these stands, now stripped gf their original marble, the Roman pop- ulace once watched the games gf fhe gladiators. R 0 E Continued Sailors en route to the Eternal City found that all railroads lead to Rome. Once within the City of the Seven Hills the tour party found home-like comfort and recreation at the U.S.O. Chaplain Barras and the boys enjoyed coffee and English conversation with a lady at the club. Venturing forth into the city, sailors saw it as a mixture of the old and the new . . . a place of cobhlestones and churches, tiny cars, modern motorbikes, friendly merchants and pretty girls. i Umbrellas shade a 0orist's stand on the steps before a Spanish-style church,