Folkvang, if you believe that St Peter's Basilica was built solely by taking down the Coliseum in Rome you've got more history to read. But yeah, its a travesty the church used any material at all from that structure of enlightenment which was a shining beacon glowing against opulences built on slavery, death, oppression, sloth, gluttony, abuse, torture, and any number of other excesses to un-earned wealth, cus if the Coliseum was anything, it was all about tasteful restraint...
Now the Circus Gaii et Neronis, where many of the Christian martyrdoms occurred - sure. Tear it down, build on its spot, and don't forget to spit and take a shit on it while you're at it. But that wasn't even this building you're ragging on. St. Peter's Basilica was constructed about 500 years ago over the foundations of the old St. Peter's Basilica, which was built in the 4th century to house the tomb of St. Peter.
But I'm probably full of crap - the Coliseum is more important, after all Gladiator was such a cool movie. And its not like the coliseum raided other venues for its material. Its not like the Romans cannibalized material all the time thruout their entire history. Its not like all europeans were dragging looted crap all over hte continent.
Lets talk about Napoleaon's and his arch...
Spoken like a good protestant what'd make Martin Luther proud. *looks around* Oh wait, the Reformation ended four hundred years ago...
As opposed to that other religious organization thats given many times more money to feed the poor sick homeless and starving. The, um, whats its name again? The, uh... Oh right, there is none.
[ 26. December 2004, 07:46 PM: Message edited by: Mowgli ]