Augustus and the Subura: Rome's Most Notorious Slum

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the Subura, the teeming, chaotic lower-class district of Augustan Rome. They discuss its narrow, filthy streets, the dangerous insulae (apartment blocks) that often collapsed or caught fire, and the bustling tabernae that lined its alleys. The episode examines Augustus's response to the district's problems, including the creation of the Vigiles Urbani and the expansion of the aqueducts to bring clean water. They also touch on the social tensions between the elite on the Palatine and the plebs of the Subura, the role of the compitalia festivals, and the literary depiction of the area by poets like Martial and Juvenal. The conversation draws on specific archaeological and historical evidence, including the Forma Urbis Romae and the regionary catalogues, to paint a vivid picture of daily life in ancient Rome's most infamous neighborhood. #Subura #Augustus #AncientRome #RomanSlums #Insulae #VigilesUrbani #PaxRomana #Plebs #Compitalia #Martial #Juvenal #FormaUrbisRomae #RomanArchitecture #UrbanHistory #RomanFireBrigades #RomanAqueducts #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo