The Theater of Marcellus, the Capitoline Museum, and Palatine Hill
Today we visited the Theater of Marcellus, the Capitoline Museum, and Palatine Hill. The Theater of Marcellus was the largest theater in Rome at the time of its construction.
At the Capitoline Museum each of us had to find an artifact that contained elements related to what we had learned on Etruscan and Roman history. During class that night, we were able to hear from each other about the various artifacts we had found. This was a great way for us to apply what we had learned thus far on the trip.
After the Capitoline Museum, we visited Palatine Hill, the most important hill in Rome where the emperors resided, with the University of California’s Professor Crispin Corrado, a specialist in Roman history. Since the founding of Rome, the Palatine Hill was where the most important people lived. We visited Augustus’ house on the Hill and the imperial palace that was built by Tiberius but expanded by Caligula and Claudius. During Nero’s reign, work began on a new and larger palace which was destroyed in the fire of 64 AD. Nero later built the Domus Aurea on top of previous Republican period houses. We also saw the palace of the Flavian dynasty which at one time had a black marble walkway that functioned as a mirror for the paranoid Domitian; it enabled him to see any approaching possible threat.
After Professor Corrado’s tour of Palatine Hill, we went to overlook the city.
Chelsea and Rosie
A few pictures from Palatine Hill:
(The so-called “hut of Romulus” is identified by these post holes in the stone; whether the mythic founder of Rome actually lived there is a matter of debate.)
(Inside the House of Augustus, a well-preserved late second style wall painting)
(Also in the House of Augustus, stucco reliefs on the underside of a vault)
(Above and below: the ruins of the Flavian palace)
(Above and below: the ruins of the Hippodrome, or stadium, of Domitian)
William Skinner
