Rome was mud and smoky skies; the rank smell of the Tiber and the exotically spiced cooking fires of a hundred different nationalities. Rome was white marble and gilding and heady perfumes; the blare of trumpets and the shrieking of market-women and the eternal, sub-aural hum of more people, speaking more languages than Gaius had ever imagined existed, crammed together on seven hills whose contours had long ago disappeared beneath this encrustation if humanity. Rome was the pulsing heart of the world.

Summary

This quote describes the contrasting nature of Rome, highlighting its vibrant and diverse atmosphere. It portrays Rome as a city of contradictions, with terms like "mud and smoky skies" and the "rank smell of the Tiber" juxtaposed against the imagery of "white marble and gilding" and "heady perfumes." The quote emphasizes the bustling energy of Rome, with the blaring trumpets, shrieking market-women, and multitude of languages spoken. Ultimately, Rome is depicted as a thriving metropolis, the center of civilization, so alive and dynamic that it is likened to the "pulsing heart of the world."

Topics