02-The Monuments of Rome 20-03-2007 16:55 Pagina 2
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
02-The Monuments of Rome 20-03-2007 16:55 Pagina 2 Co Rome for you Information series on the City of Rome Produced by: Cosmofilm spa - Elio de Rosa, editore Texts: Alberto Tagliaferri, Valerio Variale (Cultural Association Mirabilia Urbis) Editorial coordination: Emanuela Bosi Graphics and page setting: Marco C. Mastrolorenzi Translation edit by: Stephen Geoffrey Wheeler Photos: C. De Santis: cover, p. 2, 13 bottom, 17, 35 left; A. Idini: p. 31, 32, 34, 35, 38 top; L. Moz- zano: p. 21, 22, 23, 24, 25; P. Soriani: p. 14, 27, 28, 36, 37, 38 bottom; Spazio Visivo: p. 3, 9, 10 right, 11, 12, 13 top, 15 bottom, 16, 18, 19 top; Archivio Cosmofilm: p. 10 left, 15 top, 19 bottom. Drawings on p. 8, 20, 29 by P. Pinchera for Mirabilia Urbis On the cover, Temple of Vespasian in the Roman Forum On this page, Columns of the Temple of Mars Ultor in the Forum of Augustus 02-The Monuments of Rome 20-03-2007 16:56 Pagina 3 Walks in Rome Comune di Roma Turismo • The Roman Forum 8 1. The west area 9 2. The east area 14 3. Walking, walking… 19 • The Colosseum area 20 4. The Arch of Constantine 21 5. Walking, walking… 22 6. The Flavian Amphitheatre (or Colosseum) 23 7. Walking, walking… 26 • The Imperial Forums 29 8. The Temple (or Forum) of Peace 30 9. The Forum of Nerva (or Forum Transitorium) 31 10. The Forum of Augustus 32 11. Trajan’s Forum 33 12. Walking, walking… 36 The Curia Monumental Rome From Via dei Fori Imperiali to the Colosseum Stampa: GRAFICA PONTINA - Pomezia - ord. n. 12564 del 3-6-09 (c. 10.000) 02-The Monuments of Rome 20-03-2007 16:56 Pagina 4 A view of the Roman Forum looking towards the Capitoline Hill in an 18th century engrav- ing by G. Vasi. The Forum area had not yet been excavated, and it was used for grazing cattle. The Colosseum and Arch of Constantine in a 17th century engraving by L. Cruyl. The mon- uments are viewed for the area of the Temple of Venus and Rome, which was then covered in orchards and vegetable gardens. 02-The Monuments of Rome 20-03-2007 16:56 Pagina 5 Monumental Rome Presentation he Roman academic Silvio Negro maintai- ned that in order to know Rome, a “lifetime Twas not enough”. When faced with a history that is as eventful as Rome’s, it is difficult to appraise it even into brick thick guides, still we decided to offer a series of encompassing pocketbook volumes that any curious tourist may carry with them during their visit. The “Walks in Rome” series offers routes within the city’s great web of must-see sites and monuments. Each publication has chosen a gui- ding theme allowing you to follow a path through, to mention a few, “Monumental Rome” (via dei Fori Imperiali and the Colosseum) or “The Dawning of Christian Rome” (The Basilicas of St. Johns in the Lateran and the Holy Cross in Jerusalem) or even enjoy the most earthly Rome “A virtual film set” (via Veneto and surroundings). So, even if a lifetime is not enough, you might as well start. Tourism Office Rome Municipal Council 5 02-The Monuments of Rome 20-03-2007 16:56 Pagina 6 Map 12 11 10 9 1 8 2 Key 1. The west area of the Roman Forum 2. The east area of the Roman Forum 3. Walking, walking… 4. The Arch of Constantine 5. Walking, walking… 6. The Flavian Amphitheatre (or Colosseum) 7. Walking, walking… 8. The Temple (or Forum) of Peace 9. The Forum of Nerva (or Forum Transitorium) 10. The Forum of Augustus 11. Trajan’s Forum 6 12. Walking, walking… 02-The Monuments of Rome 20-03-2007 16:56 Pagina 7 Map 2 7 3 5 6 4 7 02-The Monuments of Rome 20-03-2007 16:56 Pagina 8 walk nd 2 …the walk begins... The Roman Forum he valley in which the Roman ings mirrored changes in the political Forum came into existence was institutions. First came the great tem- Tformed by the Tiber’s erosion ples of the 5th and 4th centuries, repre- of the sides of the volcanic lava which senting the city’s extraordinary impor- constitutes the base of the seven hills. tance right from the start of its history. The lower part of this basin, stretching Basilicas were constructed from the roughly from the central area almost as 3rd century onwards, buildings which far as to the river, was occupied by a served to provide citizens with a cov- marsh known as the Velabrum. On the ered area for business and assembly as edge of this marsh, at the foot of the an alternative to open areas. The earli- Palatine, rose some of Rome’s most an- est were the Basilica Porcia and the cient monuments, such as the Regia, Basilica Sempronia, later to be substi- seat of the ancient kings. Towards the tuted by the Basilica Aemilia and the end of the 6th century BC, under the Basilica Julia. The Imperial period, Tarquin dynasty, the valley was re- from the reign of Augustus onwards, claimed and the waters drained into saw the definitive transformation of the Tiber down a sewer, the Cloaca the entire area into a monumental Maxima. The area was now ready for square which served a strictly com- use by the tribes who were already liv- memorative purpose, adorned in opu- ing on the surrounding hills, providing lent marble but by now deprived of its them with a place to meet, exchange historic goods and carry out the main activities functions. of daily life. Thus the Roman Forum was born, and it was to be the centre stage of Roman history throughout the peri- h od of the Republic, right down to the 1st century AD. The Re- g publican build- f b e d a c The valley of the Roman Forum in the Imperial Age: a) Curia Julia - b) Basilica Aemil- 8 ia - c) Basilica Julia - d) Temple of Castor and Pollux - e) Temple of Divus Julius - f) Temple of Romulus - g) Basilica of Maxentius - h) Temple of Venus and Rome 02-The Monuments of Rome 20-03-2007 16:56 Pagina 9 Monumental Rome 1. The west area ur walk begins in Via dei Fori north and another to the south. Imperiali. Coming from Piazza Following the paved Sacred Way, OVenezia, the entrance to the the most important street in Ancient archeological area of the Roman Fo- Rome, which traverses the whole of rum is on the right. We go through the Forum area, we come to the west the gate and follow the short ramp side of the Basilica Aemilia and what down the left side of the Temple of remains of the ancient Shrine of Antoninus and Faustina; on the right Venus Cloacina: its circular marble is the area of the Basilica Aemilia, built base. The shrine consisted of a at the expense of the gens Aemilia precinct surrounded by a low wall, (Aemilii clan), from which it took its containing the statues of the god- name. It was built by the censors Mar- desses Cloacina and Venus. It was an cus Aemilius Lepidus and Marcus Ful- imperial-age reconstruction of a very vius Nobilior in 179 BC. The south fa- ancient building erected at the point cade of the basilica, looking towards where the Cloaca Maxima entered the Forum Square and the Sacred the square. Way, featured a two-storey colon- In the same area, at the meeting point nade of piers decorated with en- of the Via Sacra and the Argiletum, gaged columns. Below the porticus of the road which led to the crowded the basilica was a series of tabernae, Suburra neighbourhood, are the re- leading to the offices of the mains of a small brick building which argentarii, or money changers. En- has been identified as the Temple of trance to the basilica was via three en- Janus, a double-faced god who was trances on the long side of the build- the patron di- ing. The huge interior was divided in- to four aisles: a main central one, two smaller ones to the 9 The Basilica Aemilia 02-The Monuments of Rome 20-03-2007 16:56 Pagina 10 walk nd 2 Arch of Septimius Severus Temple of Saturn vinity of transition, of the beginning and sunset. On one side of the Comi- and end of all things. tium was the Graecostasis, a platform The temple must have been square in from which overseas ambassadors shape, and it featured two doors, made their addresses, generally in which were kept closed in time of Greek. Another space contained the peace and open in time of war. Rostra, a platform decorated with the In front of the Arch of Septimius prow-heads (rostra) taken from ene- Severus, in an area marked off by a my ships, from which orators ha- rail, are the remains of what is known rangued the people. The Comitium as the Lapis Niger (black stone), a was entirely redesigned during Cae- segment of black marble paving sur- sar and Augustus’s reworkings of the rounded by the remaining fragments Forum, after which it no longer served of slabs of white marble. In addition the traditional political function it had to an altar, 1899 excavations beneath under the Republican order. the paving also revealed a stele bear- Caesar embarked upon his ambitious ing an inscription in archaic Latin curs- transformations of the political area ing anyone who profaned the place, of the Forum in 54 BC.