ENTRANCE ON VIA DI S. GREGORIO
Gate by Jacopo Barozzi aka Vignola (1507/73) moved here from
its original location on the Sacred Way
Entering it
is possible to see the remains of buildings with vaults not yet studied that
perhaps had functions of substructure
Segment of
the aqueduct that connected the Celium Hill with the Palatine Hill built by
Domitian (81/96) in continuation of that of Nero (54/68) from the Spes Vetus
(Porta Maggiore) to the Celium Hill, in turn a continuation of the Aqueduct
of Claudius (41/54) 69 km (43 miles) long from the valley of the
Aniene River
Known as Septizodium or according to some
archaeologists, Septizonium
It was the
monumental façade of a fountain-nymphaeum adorned with columns to impress those
who came from the Appian Way
Demolished
in about 1588 by order of Pope Sixtus V Peretti (1585/90) to obtain building
materials with which to construct various buildings, including the Sistine
Chapel in the Basilica of S. Maria Maggiore, elements of the
façade of S.
Girolamo degli Illirici and the Fountains of the Crossroads of the
Quattro Fontane
Structures
of considerable height at the front end facing the Circus
Maximus that had functions of substructure, to expand
artificially the hill and create a platform to support the new wing of the
palace at the time of Septimius Severus (193/211)
Though they
are grand structures, they give only a faint idea of what was to be the
grandeur of the original massive building
Bathhouse
from the time of Domitian (81/96)
The upper
part of the building, the area of the baths, was built in later times, among
which the most important is that of Septimius Severus (193/211), as shown by
the marks on the bricks
The
construction continued until the time of Maxentius (306/312)
Among the
Severan Baths and the Domus Augustana
Behind the
building there is a cylindrical structure located towards the Circus Maximus,
perhaps a latrine
Here
Septimius Severus built a new imperial stage to watch the races of the Circus
Maximus
160 x 48 m
(525 x 157 feet)
At the two
ends small semi-circular buildings, maybes fountains or terminal elements of
the spina, the central dividing line
Originally
there was a two-story portico restored in the Hadrian's period (117/138)
At the
center along the east side there was the imperial box
Maybe it
was the Viridarium, green space for rest and walking, and maybe even the
Hippodromus Palatii
It was
crossed by a wide boulevard ring from which paths and flower beds branched and
it was decorated with statues and marbles
Here were
found most of the statues now in the Museo Palatino
The small
oval enclosure is perhaps dating back to the time of Theodoric (king of Italy
493/526) and may never have been used as an amphitheater, for gladiatorial
games had been abolished for about 80 years at the time
