Italy 2006 - Rome

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The Colosseum at night. Begun by Vespasian in AD 70, it took only 10 years to build. It was opened by Titus in AD 80. There were 100 days of games to celebrate its opening. The Colosseum viewed from the Via Sacra of the Roman Forum. It was four storeys high and faced with travertine. The Colosseum has 80 external arches. These are the entrances to the amphitheatre. Admission was by a numbered token. Each entrance or vomitorium was numbered and lead to a specific area of seating. The Colosseum viewed from the Via di S Gregorio, the ancient route of the Via Triumphalis
Colosseum Colosseum Colosseum Colosseum Colosseum
         
Looking towards the Temple of Venus and Rome and the Basilica of Constantine and Maxentius Stones used to hold the ropes of the velarium which shaded spectators from the hot sun Within one of the internal arcades of the amphitheatre. These concentric arcades buttressed the weight of the seating in the cavea. There were three levels of seating in the cavea. A small area of marble seating has been reconstructed. Looking towards the Libitinarian Gate through which the dead were removed.
Colosseum Colosseum Colosseum Colosseum Colosseum
         
The east entrance through which the competitors arrived. Slaves, the poor and women sat at the very top. More important citizens sat lower down. The Colosseum could seat approx 50,000 people. The arena was probably floored with wood and covered in sand which soaked up the blood. The substructure of the amphitheatre housed gladiators, animals and the scenery used in the shows. The Emperor had his own entrance and seating area on the northern side of the amphitheatre
Colosseum Colosseum Colosseum Colosseum Colosseum
         
The Roman Forum with the Temple of Saturn on the left and the Temple of Castor and Pollux straight ahead The Arch of Septimius Severus flanked by the Temple of Vespasian and the Temple of Saturn A general view of the Roman Forum The Temple of Saturn and the Rostra The Temple of Saturn
The Roman Forum The Roman Forum The Roman Forum The Temple of Saturn The Temple of Saturn
         
The Tabularium, the Arch of Septimius Severus and a side view of the Curia The Temple of Vesta housed the sacred flame of Rome and was tended by the Vestal Virgins The Temple of Antoninus and Faustina which later became the church of San Lorenzo in Miranda Buildings on the Palatine Buildings on the Palatine
The Roman Forum The Temple of Vesta The Temple of Antoninus and Faustina The Palatine The Palatine
         
The Temple of Romulus. The bronze doors are original. The building has now been restored to its original state having previously been the vestibule of the church of Santi Cosma e Damiano Church of Santi Cosma e Damiano - this is in Vespasian's Forum of Peace The Arch of Titus The Temple of Venus and Rome The Basilica of Constantine and Maxentius
The Temple of Romulus Church of Santi Cosma e Damiano The Arch of Titus The Temple of Venus and Rome The Basilica of Constantine and Maxentius
         
The Basilica of Constantine and Maxentius The Arch of Constantine The Arch of Constantine Aqueduct which used to bring water to the Palatine The Circus Maximus looking towards the starting gates
The Basilica of Constantine and Maxentius The Arch of Constantine The Arch of Constantine Aqueduct The Circus Maximus
         
Looking across the Circus Maximus to the Imperial Palace on the Palatine The Circus Maximus - remains of seating The Theatre of Marcellus The Theatre of Marcellus - completed in 17BC Statue of Romulus and Remus
The Circus Maximus The Circus Maximus The Theatre of Marcellus The Theatre of Marcellus Statue of Romulus and Remus
         
Trajan's Forum Trajan's Column Trajan's Column Trajan's Column Trajan's Market
Trajan's Forum Trajan's Column Trajan's Column Trajan's Column Trajan's Market
         
Trajan's Market The Baths of Diocletian, now the church of Santa Maria degli Angeli The inside of the church in what was once the frigidarium of the baths The original vaulting of the frigidarium Piazza della Repubblica - the semi-circular shape of this piazza derives from the exedra of the Baths of Diocletian
Trajan's Market The Baths of Diocletian The Baths of Diocletian The Baths of Diocletian Piazza della Repubblica
         
San Bernardo alle Terme - built in the Rotunda of the Baths of Diocletian San Bernardo alle Terme San Bernardo alle Terme - the original coffered dome and oculus The Temple of Hadrian - the columns of which now form the facade of the Stock Exchange Rope marks can be seen made by attempts to pull the columns down
San Bernardo alle Terme San Bernardo alle Terme San Bernardo alle Terme The Temple of Hadrian The Temple of Hadrian
         
The Pantheon viewed from the Piazza della Rotunda. It was built by Hadrian on the site of earlier temples The original inscription attributing the building to Agrippa was retained. The temple was dedicated to It became a church in the 7th Century and is the best preserved of all Roman buildings. The dome of the rotunda is original and was the largest in the world for centuries. Plumb line marker used to ensure that the fluting of the column was accurate
The Pantheon The Pantheon The Pantheon The Pantheon The Pantheon
         
View of the interior showing the alternating rectangular and curved alcoves. The opus sectile marble floor is believed to be original and has a drain hole in the middle for the rainwater Our group One of the rectangular alcoves showing the relieving arches in the brickwork Each alcove has two supporting pillars
The Pantheon The Pantheon The Pantheon The Pantheon The Pantheon
         
This area has been restored to show how the Pantheon would originally have been decorated The dome is approx 142' high and 142' wide and is decorated with 5 rows of 28 coffers of reducing size The Oculus is open to the sky and is encircled by a bronze ring Obelisk of Santa Maria sopra Minerva - designed by Bernini Piazza Navona - Benini's Fountain of the Four Rivers
The Pantheon The Pantheon The Pantheon Obelisk of Santa Maria sopra Minerva Piazza Navona
         
Piazza Navona - the piazza takes its shape from the foundations of Domitian's stadium Piazza Navona - it was carnival, so the children were dressed up Largo Argentina - four very early temples Largo Argentina - Pompey's theatre was built near here Temple of Hercules in the Forum Boarium near the Tiber - 2nd century BC
Piazza Navona Piazza Navona Largo Argentina Largo Argentina Temple of Hercules
         
Temple of Portunus, the god of rivers and ports, also in the Forum Boarium The Arch of Janus stood at the crossroads of the Forum Boarium The Trevi Fountain at night. The Trevi Fountain - built in 1762, it is fed by the Aqua Virgo aqueduct dating from 17 BC and still carrying water to Rome The Spanish Steps at night. The steps were completed in 1762
Temple of Portunus The Arch of Janus The Trevi Fountain The Trevi Fountain The Spanish Steps
         
The Capitol and St Peter's viewed from the Piazza del Quirinale St Peter's from the Piazza san Pietro St Peter's St Peter's - Piazza san Pietro built by Bernini between 1656 and 1667 St Peter's - the colonnade of Piazza san Pietro
View from the Quirinale St Peter's St Peter's St Peter's St Peter's
         
The Vatican - the Gallery of Maps approaching the Sistine Chapel The Vatican - the Gallery of Maps approaching the Sistine Chapel The Sistine Chapel - Michelangelo's ceiling The Sistine Chapel - Michelangelo's ceiling The Vatican - the Bramante Stairway - designed so that a horse could be ridden up it in case of emergencies.
The Vatican The Vatican The Sistine Chapel The Sistine Chapel The Vatican
         
The Vatican Museum - the Belvedere Torso The Vatican Museum - a marble copy of Praxiteles' Apollo Sauroctonios - the lizard-killer The Vatican Museum - Laocoon and his sons being strangled by sea serpents The Vatican Museum - Doryphoros - a marble copy of the original Greek bronze by Polyclitus The Vatican Museum - the Belevedere Apollo - marble copy of the Greek original
The Vatican Museum The Vatican Museum The Vatican Museum The Vatican Museum The Vatican Museum
         
The Vatican Museum - a marble copy of Praxiteles' Aphrodite of Knidos. The original is lost. It was the first statue of a nude female. The Vatican Museum - Apoxyomenos - a youth scraping himself with a strigil - a marble copy of the bronze statue by Lysippos      
The Vatican Museum The Vatican Museum      
         
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Last updated: 12/03/2006 17:05


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