Tracing History

    Just beyond the Colosseum, the Church of Saint Clement is tucked within the middle of a simple street.  Within its walls, the church goes underground multiple levels, with each level dating back centuries.  On the main and most recent floor, the current church can be seen.  The walls were fairly plain, but the ceiling was very impressive. 
    Down below, you can trace the history of the building all the way back to 100 AD.  Going from level to level, it was incredible to see how this one area has changed, and how that change reflects what happened throughout Rome.  On the bottom floor (at least what has been excavated), you can see a mithraic temple.  This was very different from the one I saw at Ostia, where there is a full statue of Mithras.  Above that, there are frescos depicting the life of St. Clement, who was also the fourth Pope. 
    The most amazing thing about this site is how as the city changed and was built over, so was the church.  Each part of this place has been built over as Rome’s elevation has risen.  With each addition, a new chapter of the church’s history can be seen.  I can only wonder what it will look like in a few centuries, where the current church may soon join the rest of the building underneath a new, more contemporary setting.