Episodes
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28: Trajan's Column
Trajan’s Column is a monument to Emperor Trajan’s victory in the wars with Dacia that took place between the years 101 and 106. It was part of a sequence of constructions built by or dedicated to Trajan. Over time, running from north-west to south-east, these included the Temple of Trajan, the...
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35: The Column of Marcus Aurelius
This monument celebrates Marcus Aurelius’ two successful military campaigns against tribes north of the Danube in what is modern day Germany. The first campaign ran from the year 172-173 and was waged primarily against the Marcomanni tribe, the second in the following two years was principally...
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34: The Mausoleum of Augustus
Augustus started building the mausoleum following his victory over Anthony and Cleopatra in 31 BCE at the naval battle on the west coast of Greece close to the promontory of Actium – his success brought an end to the civil war and meant that Egypt transitioned to be a Roman province. Augustus’...
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33: The Theater of Marcellus
The Theater was named after Emperor Augustus’ nephew Marcus Claudius Marcellus however the building was originally commissioned by Julius Caesar who bought and cleared the land in a space to the south of the Field of Mars amongst a cluster of Temples and next to the Tiber. Notably, neither Julius...
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32: The Pyramid of Cestius
The Pyramid of Cestius was built during the reign of the emperor Augustus, probably between 18 and 12 BCE. It’s surface is white Carrara marble and the tip is exactly 100 Roman feet (30 meters) high. At the time of its construction, Ancient Rome was heavily influenced by Egyptian architecture…
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31: The Mausoleum of Hadrian
If you’re looking on a map for Hadrian’s Mausoleum then you may well not locate it as its name, purpose, shape and context has changed radically over the past 1900 years. Today it is more commonly known as the Castel Sant’Angelo however the core of this building was originally constructed as a...
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30: The Palatine HIll
As part of this description I will provide some directions and guidance to specific locations to help you explore the site however it is difficult to provide an exact route as the access paths change depending on what archeological excavation or restoration work is taking place. This tour starts…
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29: Largo Argentina
Largo Argentina is an exposed cluster of four temples to the south of the Pantheon and east of the Campo De’ Fiori. Today these sit in the middle of a large square and next to a bustling set of road intersections but they were originally part of a much larger temple complex in the field of Mars....
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27: The Circus Maximus
Legend has it that the Circus Maximus was founded by the early kings of Rome in the 6th Century BCE. It is undoubtedly the oldest and was by far the largest public sports venue of ancient Rome. It occupies most of the valley between the Aventine and Palatine hills, and served Rome’s…
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26: The Forum of Julius Caesar
This area, at the side of the Capitoline Hill, was the border between two of the ancient tribes and a site for burials roughly 3,000 years ago. Archaeological evidence shows that at times there were also huts, a forge and in the 6th Century BCE, it was the site of a large house – potentially that...
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25: The Basilica Julia
The Basilica Julia was dedicated by Julius Caesar in 46 BCE – the same year that his nearby Forum was completed. Caesar funded the construction with monies taken during his highly successful campaigns in Gaul. But his was not the first Basilica on this site. Over one hundred years earlier…
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24: The Temple of Vespasian and Titus
The Temple of Vespasian and Titus sits at the north-west end of the Forum between the Temple of Saturn and the Temple of Concord and backs onto the Tabularium. It is readily identified by the three Corinthian columns connected by a carved piece of entablature that together form a right-angle.…
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23: The Temple of Saturn
The Temple, repaired and rebuilt over many centuries, is one of the most ancient buildings in the Forum. Its construction was ordered by the last Etruscan King, Tarquin the Proud, in the late 6th or early 5th century BCE and was to be sited in front of an altar already dedicated to Saturn. It is...
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22: The Temple of Concord
The Temple of Concord is the site of a series of shrines dedicated to the Roman goddess Concordia, and erected at the western end of the Roman Forum. The earliest temple is believed to have been vowed by Marcus Furius Camillus in 367 BCE, but it may not have been built until 218 BCE. The temple...
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21: The Arch of Septimius Severus
The Arch commemorates the victories of Emperor Septimius Severus and his sons, Caracalla and Geta, in the two campaigns waged against the Parthians between the years 194 and 199. Before this the Romans had been in conflict with Parthia for hundreds of years with notable campaigns taking place…
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20: The Curia Julia
The Curia Julia is the third building in the Forum that was purpose built as the Senate’s meeting place and each bore the name of its financial sponsor. The custom of meeting in a Curia was believed to have begun in a temple where the warring tribes gathered and laid down their arms during the...
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19: Black Stone, Rostra and Phocas
You’re listening to an Audio Guide to Ancient Rome. This episode is one in a series of short descriptions of monuments in the Roman Forum. In this episode I’m describing the Black Stone, Rostra and the Column of Phocas. The Roman Forum sits in a saddle between the Capitoline and Palatine Hills....
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18: The Basilica Paulli
Before the Basilica Paulli was built, this location had already served as the site of a basilica commissioned in 179 BCE by consul Marcus Fulvius Nobilior. That building replaced a series of butchers shops that previously occupied the site. Fulvius didn’t see the project through to completion so,...
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17: The Temple of Castor and Pollux
The Temple of Castor and Pollux is readily recognizable by its remaining 3 white columns standing in a line close by the Temple of Vesta. These columns are part of the side of a much later rebuild of what was originally a 5 Century BCE temple. The original temple to the semi-divine twins Castor…
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16: The Temple of Divine Julius
Little of the Temple of Divine Julius remains however a lot is known about the events that led to its construction and what it looked like. Julius Caesar was assassinated on the 15th March in the year 44 BCE at a session of the Senate convened in a hall that was part of the Theater of Pompey. He...
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15: The New Basilica
Construction of the New Basilica began under the emperor Maxentius in the year 308 but was completed by emperor Constantine in 312 after his victory over Maxentius at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge. Indeed, the change in ruler during its building means that this is sometimes referred the…
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14: Temple of Antoninus and Faustina
The Temple of Antoninus and Faustina is easily recognized by the six columns that dominate its front – these are topped by an entablature that carries the dedication to “Divo Antonino et Divae Faustinae Ex S.C.” which can be translated as “To the divine Antoninus and the divine Faustina, by…
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13: Temple of Divus Romulus
The Temple of Divus Romulus is recognizable as a tall round building on the North side of the Via Sacra. From the name you can be forgiven for thinking that this temple is dedicated to Romulus the legendary founder and first king of Rome. Instead the association comes from the theory that this is...
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12: The Temple of Vesta
The Temple of Vesta was integrated into the adjacent House and Sanctuary of the Vestal Virgins. The only remains of the temple itself are a modest mound of concrete however there is a reconstruction of part of the circular temple wall with adjacent columns that give some sense of the shape and...
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11: The Temple of Roma and Venus
The Temple of Roma and Venus was designed and commissioned by the Emperor Hadrian. Building started in the year 121 and this, the largest of Rome’s Temples, was inaugurated in the year 135. The building served two cults with a huge seated statue for each: one side was dedicated to the goddess…
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10: The Arch of Titus
The Arch of Titus - This monument celebrates processional triumph given to Titus following his successful campaign in Judaea. Titus commanded the Roman army during the siege and destruction of Jerusalem in the year 70. This was the culmination of a four-year campaign in Judaea which had been...
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9: The Roman Forum
You’re listening to an Audio Guide to Ancient Rome. My name is Daron Green. This intro and the next 15 podcast episodes are all relatively short – typically 5-10 minutes long with each focused on a specific building or area in the Roman Forum – note that there is an interactive google map…
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8: The Baths of Caracalla
The Baths of Caracalla occupy a truly huge site to the south of the city. This particular construction was likely originally commissioned by Septimius Severus; but inaugurated in the year 216 during his son Caracalla’s reign. The opening of the baths came at a time when Caracalla had serious need...
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7: The Piazza Navona
It’s difficult to imagine it now, but the Piazza Navona we see today sits on the footprint of what was a major sporting stadium that accommodated roughly 30,000 spectators. Known it its day as the Circus Agonalis it was commissioned by Emperor Domitian and opened in the year 86. This tour, which...
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6: The Arch of Constantine
The arch was erected by the Roman Senate to commemorate emperor Constantine's victory over emperor Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge which had taken place on October 28 in the year 312. This tour gives the context for the rich details shown on the arch and explores the deeper history of…
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5: The Ludus Magnus
The Ludus Magnus is located immediately east of the Colosseum. Translated as the ‘big training ground’ this was the largest and most prestigious gladiatorial school and barracks in ancient Rome. It is one of four centers where gladiators from across the Roman Empire would live, eat, and practice...
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4: The Capitoline Hill and Insula
The Capitoline Hill is the ancient heart of Rome and the setting for the foundation of the entire Roman empire. This tour explores the origins of the hill and its relationship to the Roman forum. We will also visit one of the last places to see an original ancient Roman apartments building (Insula).
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2: The Ara Pacis
The Ara Pacis is a sacrificial altar commissioned by the Roman Senate on July 4, 13 BCE to honor the triumphal return of emperor Augustus from his campaigns in Hispania and Gaul. This tour assumes you are visiting the Museum of the Ara Pacis and goes into detail of the design and purpose.
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3: The Colosseum
The Colosseum is the largest amphitheater built during the Roman Empire. It is considered one of the greatest works of architecture and engineering in ancient Rome. This magnificent building was paid for largely by the 50,000kg of gold and silver taken during the sacking of Jerusalem.…
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1: The Pantheon
The Pantheon is the best-preserved Roman building in the world. It was originally built between 27 and 25 BCE by Augustus' right-hand man Marcus Vispanius Agrippa, supposedly as a temple dedicated to all the gods of Rome. This description and tour starts in the Piazza della Rotonda (the open…
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1: Introduction
Each episode in this series gives you the history and a short tour of a site in the eternal city in the hope that you can make the most of your visit. I was motivated to create this series after many great trips to Rome. That said, each time I visited I realized I spent half of my time with my…
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