Ancient Rome

Flavian Amphitheater, Forum, Palatine

Contents

Lesson 1

The Flavian Amphitheater – The Heart of Roman Spectacles

The first lesson is dedicated to the Colosseum, one of the most famous monuments in the world, retracing its history from its construction to its transformation in the following centuries.

From the Domus Aurea to the Flavian Amphitheater

The Flavian Amphitheater was built during a period of great political and urban changes.

• The reign of Nero and the period of military anarchy, marking the end of the Julio-Claudian dynasty.
• The rise of Vespasian, the first emperor of the Flavian dynasty, who presented himself as a bourgeois Princeps, in contrast to Nero’s extravagant lifestyle.
• The decision to transform the Domus Aurea into a public space, returning an area that had been a private imperial residence to the people.

Architectural Description

We will analyze the structural elements of the Colosseum, comparing its layout in the 1st century AD with its current configuration.

• The facade: the materials used, the use of stacked architectural orders, and the organization of the entrances.
• The Velarium: the sophisticated mobile roofing system that protected spectators from the sun.

Internal Structure and Functioning

• The cavea: the arrangement of seats and the relationship between the audience and the spectacle.
• The floor and the hypogeum: the intricate network of underground tunnels that housed stage machinery, animals, and gladiators.
• The galleries and services, with an in-depth look at the logistics and organization of the amphitheater.

The Spectacles and the Decline of the Colosseum

The Colosseum was not just an arena for gladiators, but also a place for hunts with exotic animals (venationes), naumachiae (simulated naval battles), and public executions.

Finally, the lesson will examine the fate of the amphitheater after the fall of the Roman Empire:

• The prohibition of games under Theodosius.
• Its use as a medieval fortress and later as a quarry for building materials for Renaissance buildings.
• The establishment of the Via Crucis, which turned the Colosseum into a Christian place of worship.

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Lesson 2

The Palatine Hill and the Imperial Forums – The Center of Roman Power

The second lesson delves into the Roman Forum, the Imperial Fora, and the Palatine Hill, the heart of political, administrative, and religious life in ancient Rome.

The Roman Forum: From Marshland to Symbol of Rome

• Origins and transformations: how a marshy area was drained and became the city’s nerve center.
• The Via Sacra, the triumphal route of the emperors, and the comparison between its ancient function and its current meaning.
• The main buildings: basilicas, temples, and monuments that defined the urban landscape.
• The Imperial Fora: the progressive expansion of the Roman Forum with the forums of Julius Caesar, Augustus, Trajan, and Nerva, each with a precise propagandistic and political function.

The Palatine Hill: The Hill of Origins and Imperial Power

• The Palatine Hill, the most important hill in the city, is the site of the foundation of Rome, according to the legend of Romulus and Remus.
• The huts of Romulus, the archaeological remains that testify to the city’s early settlements.
• The Palatine as the center of power: from the residential district of the Republican aristocracy to the residence of the emperors.
• The end of the Republic and the construction of the Domus Augustana, the first imperial residence.
• The houses of Augustus and Livia, examples of domestic architecture from the imperial era.
• The Imperial Palace from the Flavians to Tiberius, with the evolution of the Domus Tiberiana and Domus Flavia.
• The Farnese Gardens, one of the first Renaissance gardens created in an archaeological area.

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Module Objective

This module provides a comprehensive overview of the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and the Imperial Forums, exploring their historical, architectural, and cultural value. Participants will gain essential knowledge to lead guided tours, combining historical context with hands-on experience on the archaeological site.