Rome Photos April 2011 Page 19

Italy Page 19
The Palatine Hill

The Palatine Hill is the centermost of the legendary Seven Hills of Rome and is one of the most ancient parts of the city. It stands one hundred and thirty feet above the Roman Forum, looking down upon it on one side, and upon the Circus Maximus on the other. 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. According to this legend, the shepherd Faustulus found the infants, and with his wife Acca Larentia raised the children. The legendary origin of the city tells us that Romulus and Remus decided to build a city along the banks of the River Tiber. After an argument, Romulus killed his brother Remus and founded the city in 753 BC. Modern scholars, however, believe that the city dates back to around 1000 BC.

Many affluent Romans of the Republican period (510 BC c. 44 BC) had their residences at the Palatine Hill. During the Empire (27 BC 476 AD) several emperors resided there; in fact, the ruins of the palaces of Augustus (63 BC 14), Tiberius (42 BC 37) and Domitian (51 96) remain there to this day.

Ruins of the imperial palace. Keep in mind that this red brick structure would have been completely covered in gleaming marble.

When Domitian became emperor, he rebuilt the imperial palace and enlarged it so much that it eventually covered the entire Palatine Hill.
He even had his own private chariot race course built on the hill, as shown in this photo.
Not surprising, nobody ever beat the emperor in a chariot race here (duh - not if you wanted to live!).

Eventually, the old Roman buildings were buried and other structures were built on the Palatine Hill.
This is the Franciscan Monastery of Saint Bonaventura, built in 1625, perched on the eastern side of the Palatine.

Another shot of the monastery.

A section of the imperial palace.

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