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Roman Forum In
the centre of the Forum stands a humble ruined structure where fresh
flowers are placed year-round. This is the foundation of the Temple to
Julius Caesar, built by Augustus in the 1st century BC. The flowers
indicate the exact spot of Caesar’s cremation .
Roman Forum and Colosseum
Pantheon Originally
worshippers approached this temple to all the gods by a steep
staircase, but the street level has risen since the 2nd century. The
present temple was built by Hadrian, after the 1st-century BC temple
burned down .
Imperial Fora The
largest temple and one of the most commanding of this imposing zone was
the 2nd-century AD Temple of Venus and Rome, its columns standing high
on the hill between the Forum and the Colosseum. Its back-to-back design
was Hadrian’s, and when the great architect Apollodorus criticized it,
Hadrian had him put to death .
Colosseum The
backbreaking labour to build the greatest of amphitheatres was carried
out by a horde of Jewish slaves, brought here following the suppression
of their revolt in Judaea. The structure has been the archetype for the
world’s sports stadiums ever since.
Colosseum
Palatine Hill Most
European languages derive their word for palace from the name of this
hill. All important in the history of early Rome, first as its
birthplace, then as the home of its leaders’ opulent homes, it now
serves as a bucolic setting for a romantic stroll .
Palatine fresco
Domus Augustana, Palatine Hill
Baths of Diocletian A
large section of this huge 3rd-century AD complex now houses an
excellent archaeological museum, including a marble sculpture of Mithras
that still retains its gold leaf and paint. A vast Michelangelo
cloister is decorated with ancient statuary .
Column of Marcus Aurelius A
2nd-century AD commemoration of conquests along the Danube, this
colossus stands 30 m (100 ft) high and is composed of 28 marble drums.
The 20 spiral reliefs realistically chronicle scenes from two wars. A
statue of the emperor and his wife once stood on top of the column, but
it was replaced by one of St Paul in 1589 .
Nero’s Golden House When
the rooms of the mad emperor’s house were discovered in the late 1400s,
everyone thought they’d found mysterious grottoes. Consequently, the
style of wall painting found here became known as “grotesque” and was
much imitated by Renaissance artists, including Raphael.
Nero’s Golden House
Largo di Torre Argentina Discovered
in the 1920s, four Republican temples stand out distinctly, with the
columns of a portico at the north end. The drainage gutters of an
Imperial public latrine are behind one temple, and behind others stands
the tufa-block platform of the Curia of the Theatre of Pompey. Caesar
was killed here on 15 March 44 BC.
Theatre of Marcellus The
theatre was inaugurated by Augustus in 23 BC and dedicated to his
nephew and son-in-law Marcellus, who had just died, aged 19. Not much
remains of the once huge structure, which held up to 20,000 people. In
later ages, what was left of it was used as support for medieval and
Renaissance fortresses and palaces .
Top 10 Roman Emperors
Augustus The first and most brilliant emperor (31 BC–AD 14) brought a reign of peace after 17 years of civil war. Nero The most notorious for his excesses, Nero (54–68) fancied himself a great singer and showman. He eventually committed suicide. Vespasian This emperor (69–79) ended civil war and the Jewish revolt, and started construction of the Colosseum. Trajan One of the most just rulers and successful generals, Trajan (98–117) pushed the Empire to its furthest reaches. Hadrian A great builder and traveller, Hadrian (117–38) revived Greek ideals, including the fashion of growing a beard. Marcus Aurelius The closest Rome came to having a philosopher-king of the Platonic ideal (161–80). Septimius Severus Brought order after civil war, promoted cultural life and left an important architectural legacy (193–211). Diocletian Diocletian (284–305) set up a governing system of multiple emperors. A virulent persecutor of the Christians. Constantine Constantine (306–37) established Christianity as the state religion and moved the capital to Constantinople. Romulus Augustulus The last of the emperors (475–6), deposed by the German warrior Odoacer.
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