Rome:
As It Was
Other Buildings
The Curia Julia was built under the rule of Gaius Julius Caesar in 44 B.C.E. It was used as the Senate House in Rome until the second century when population growth forced the need for a larger senate house. The Senaculum and the Secretarium Senatus (part of structure on the left side of the model) were used for informal meetings and archive storage. The ruins of the Senaculum and Secratarium Senatus are believed to be covered by the Church of Saint Luke and Saint Martin, which sit there today. The interior of the Curia Julia was 150 ft long and 60 ft wide.
Curia Julia
Column of Phocas
Amphitheatrum Flavium (Colosseum)
Circus Maximus
The Circus Maximus is linked to the kingship period lasting from 753 to 509 B.C.E. and the exact date of its construction is unknown. Its location and size were not revealed in factual works until 329 B.C.E. It is located between the Aventine and Palentine Hills. The Circus was 1800 ft long and 450 ft wide and could accomodate 150 000 people during Augustan times and 385 000 during the later Empire. The most popular event that took place at the Circus Maximus was chariot racing.
The Capitoline Hill is one of the founding Seven Hills of Rome chosen by Romulus and Remus in 753 B.C.E. The Capitoline Hill was home to the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus, Temple of Juno Moneta, Temple of Veiovis, Temple of Ops, Temple of Fortune Redux, Temple of Jupiter Tonans, Temple of Jupiter Feretrius, the Tabularium and Rostral columns. The Tabularium held all the cities records and the lower level of the building was built into the Capitoline Hill. The ruins of these temples are now covered by the Capitoline Museums sitting on top of the hill today.
Capitoline Hill
Tiber Island
Roman legends say that the island in the Tiber River was formed in 509 B.C.E. when great amounts of grain were thrown in the Tiber to celebrate the expulsion of Tarquianius Superbus. The island held a temple for the healing God Aesculapius and was dedicated to him in 291 B.C.E. By 62 B.C.E. the island was converted into the shape of a ship and even had a large central mast. Between 62-27 B.C.E. the first stone bridge acessing the island was built, this was the Pons Cestius, which provided access from the west side of the Tiber.
The theatre was built during the rule of Pompey the Great in 55 B.C.E. It seated 10 000 people and was used for literary entertainment. The open space on the east side of the theatre provided a place to gather during intermissions in the performances. At the top of the seating area stood a temple dedicated to Venus Victrix. The shape of the Theatre of Pompey is preserved by the modern architecture that sit on top of the theatre's ruins. It was the first permanent stone theatre built in Rome.
Theater of Pompey
Marcus Agrippa commissioned the construction of the Pantheon in 27 B.C.E. and it was restored by Emperor Hadrian in 126 C.E. The Pantheon is a temple consecrated to all the Gods. It still stands to this day in its original location and has been used as a church since the 7th century. It was transformed into a church after the Eastern Roman Emperor Phocas donated the Pantheon to Pope Boniface IV. The buildings diameter is 142 ft from side to side and is the same distance from the floor to the top of the dome.
Pantheon
Construction of the Colosseum began under Emperor Vespasian in 70 C.E. and was opened by Emperor Titus in 80 C.E., while modifications continued during the rule of Emperor Domitian from 81 to 96 C.E. The Colosseum could sit up to 50 000 people and was famous for gladiatorial battles, fights with wild animals, executions, re-enactment of both sea and land battles and performances of Classical mythology. It underwent many periods of construction an took on new purposes starting in the 6th century medieval period. Many began renting spaces under the seating are to set up houses and workshops and later it took on the role of a fortress. Its gradual destruction was caused by its use as a quarry for the construction of other buildings in Rome. The Colosseum still stands today and is one of Rome's most popular tourist attractions.
The Column of Phocas was erected in 608 C.E. in dedication to the Eastern Roman Emperor Phocas. The column was the last structure added to the Roman Forum. The column stands 44 ft tall and its remains are still standing in the Forum. At the base of the column there is an inscription dedicated to Emperor Phocas. It is believed the column was dedicated to Phocas because he donated the Pantheon to Pope Baniface IV who decided to dedicate the Pantheon to all the Martyr Saints.
This page displays multiple buildings that were important throughout Roman history. These buildings are unique in terms of their purpose and style and therefore are on a page of their own. Buildings like the Circus Maximus, Theatre of Pompey and the Colosseum were used to entertain the citizens of Rome and provided much of the cities leisurely activities. Tiber Island and the Capitoline Hill were home to highly concentrated areas of important temples and buildings and are interesting areas to look at as a whole.