Roman Forum - Palatine Hill

Rome began on the Palatine Hill. The Palatine Hill is the centermost of the Seven Hills of Rome and is one of the most ancient parts of the city. It stands 40 metres above the Roman Forum, looking down upon it on one side, and upon the Circus Maximus on the other. You can see it's relationship to the Coliseum and the Forum on this interactive map.

According to Roman mythology, the Palatine Hill was the location of the cave, known as the Lupercal, where Romulus and Remus were found by the she-wolf that kept them alive.

Roman Ruins on Palatine Hill. Carol is hiding somewhere in this picture; can you find her?

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Roman Forum - Temple of Castor and Pollux

The temple of Castor and Pollux was originally built in gratitude for victory at the battle of Lake Regillus (495 BC). Castor and Pollux (Greek Polydeuces) were the Dioscuri, the "twins" of Gemini, the twin sons of Zeus (Jupiter) and Leda. The facade faced toward the Forum piazza with 19 columns (only 3 remain) surmounted on a trabeation.

It is in the Roman Forum - number 10 on this interactive map.

The Temple of Castor and Pollux.

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Backlit Temple of Castor and Pollux.

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Temple of Castor and Pollux and the Arch of Septimius Severus (number 16 on the interactive map) as seen from the Palatine Hill (PALATINO on the interactive map).

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Roman Forum - Temple of Antoninus and Faustina

The Temple of Antoninus and Faustina was built by the emperor Antoninus Pius shortly after the death of his beloved wife Faustina in 141AD. The remains of the temple was converted into a church, San Lorenzo in Miranda, in the 7th or 8th century. It is is the Roman Forum - number 6 in this interactive map.


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Pantheon

These three pictures are of the Pantheon. It was originally built in 27 BC as a temple to all the gods of Ancient Rome. In Medieval times Pope Boniface IV converted it into a Christian church. Since the Renaissance it has been used as a tomb.

The people in the pictures will give some scale to the immensity of it.

The portico of the Pantheon.

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The altar in the Pantheon.

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The interior and the dome.

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View from the Coliseum

This is the Temple of Venus as seen from the Coliseum. It's number 3 on this interactive map.

The Temple of Venus

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Inside the Coliseum

4 Scenes in the Roman Coliseum.

A view of the hypogeum.

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Carol on the upper level.

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Seating, arena and hypogeum.

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Entry to the Coliseum.

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Outside the Coliseum

Today's pictures are of the exterior of the Roman Coliseum. Tomorrow; the interior.

The Coliseum. Carol has been carefully hidden in this picture. Can you find her?

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The Coliseum in its modern context.

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