Transcript Roman History, from the Beginning (Given on 10 December 2009)

Ab Urbe Condita –
From the Founding of
the City
Presented by Mr. Coates
10 December 2009
Urbs Roma, ab
origine
The City of Rome, from the
Beginning
Urbs Roma, ab origine
 Legendary founding:
21 April, 753 BC
 Romulus and Remus
 Mars and Rhea Silvia
 Nurtured by a shewolf (lupa mater)
 Adopted by
Faustulus, a
shepherd
Capitoline Museum, Rome
Urbs Roma, ab origine
 Anchises  Aeneas 
Ascanius (Ilius) 
Romulus
 Founded on the old
kingdom of Alba Longa
 Seven hills
 Can Queen Victoria Eat
Cold Apple Pie?
 Caelian, Quirinal,
Viminal, Esquiline,
Capitoline, Aventine,
Palatine
Urbs Roma, ab origine
 Real founding?
 Presence of archaic
settlement confirms an 8th
C. BC settlement on the
Palatine
 Meaning?
 Rome has been
constantly inhabited since
before the 8th C. BC –
almost 3000 years!m
8th C. BC excavation, Palatine Hill, Rome
Urbs Roma, ab Origine
 Seven Kings
Bust of L. Junius
Brutus, Capitoline
Museum, Rome
“Lucretia,” Titian
 753 BC – 509 BC
 Romulus Never Poisoned
The HAM That Priscus
Sold To Tarquinius
Superbus
 Romulus, Numa
Pompilius, Tullus
Hostilius, Ancus Marcius,
Tarquinius Priscus,
Servius Tullius,
Tarquinius Superbus
 Expelled after Rape of
Lucretia by L. Junius
Brutus
Urbs Roma, ab Origine
 Monarchy, 753 BC – 509 BC
 Republic, 509 BC – 27 BC
 Two consuls elected annually from the Senate
 100 (legendarily) senators established by Romulus; 300 in the
Monarchy and early Republic; 300-600 during the time of the
Gracchi (mid-2nd C. BC); raised to 900 by Julius Caesar; fixed
at 600 by Augustus
 Empire, 27 BC – AD 476 (fall of Western Empire)
 1228 years of Roman Autonomy; cf. the USA: 233
years of autonomy
Forum Romanum
The Roman Forum, the Business
Center
Forum Romanum
The Forum from the NE Corner (looking
west)
A View of the Forum from the Arch of S.
Severus
Forum Romanum
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Look at your handout
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Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus
Temple of Concord
Temple of Vespasian
Prison (Carcer Tullianum)
Gemonian Stairs
Temple of Saturn
Rostra
Golden Milestone
Curia
Basilica Aemilia
Temple/Tomb of Julius Caesar
Arch of Augustus
Temple of Castor and Pollux
Temple of Vesta
House of the Vestal Virgins
Arch of Titus
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Prison
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Temple of Saturn
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Tradition for brides to lay flowers on his
monument for good luck
Arch of Augustus
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Senate house (one standing there now
was constructed by J. Caesar)
Tomb of Julius Caesar
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Speakers’ platform; bows of defeated
ships placed here (rostrum means bow)
Curia
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Early treasury was here (later in the
Temple of Juno Moneta)
Rostra
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Executions, Vercingetorix
Triple triumph over Antony, Cleopatra,
Lepidus, and his other enemies
No longer exists
Vestal Virgins
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30-year “term;” Virgins proven to have
broken their “vows” were punished by
being buried alive
Forum Romanum
Existing foundations of
Temple to Jup. Opt. Max.
Models of Temple of Jupiter Optimus
Maximus, Capitoline Museums, Rome
Forum Romanum
Carcer Tullianum, Forum Romanum,
Rome
Forum Romanum
Curia Julia, Forum
Romanum
Monument to Julius Caesar, possible
site of Temple of Julius Caesar,
Forum Romanum
Forum Romanum
Remains of Arch of Augustus, Forum
Romanum
Arch of Titus, Forum Romanum
Forum Romanum
SENATVS
POPVLVSQVE·ROMANVS
DIVO·TITO·DIVI·VESPASIANI·F
VESPASIANO·AVGVSTO
Forum Romanum
 Other fora
 Julius Caesar
 Augustus
 Temple of Mars Ultor (the
Avenger); statues of
famous and illustrious
Romans in the exedrae
 Vespasian
 Temple of Peace
 Domitian/Nerva
 Trajan
Vespasian as
General
Augustus as Pontifex
Maximus
Rome and Judaea
A Strained Relationship
Rome and Judaea
 65 BC – Jerusalem captured by Pompey Magnus
 Judaea became a client state of Rome – government kept figurehead
status, but paid tribute to Rome for protection
 Judaism recognized by Roman gov’t as legitimate religion by J.
Caesar and Augustus– in other words, the Jewish leadership
didn’t clash with Roman government/religion
 AD ~33 – crucifixion of Jesus, a seditious criminal convicted by
Pontius Pilate, provincial governor of Judaea staves hostilities
between Jews and Romans
 AD 66 – general revolt by Jews against Roman rule (Nero,
emperor; Vespasian, general in Roman army)
 AD 68 – Nero’s suicide prompts civil war (Year of the Four
Emperors); Vespasian goes to Italy, takes control
 AD 70 – Vespasian sends his son, Titus, at the head of the army,
to Judaea to quell rebellion; destruction of Temple in Jerusalem
 AD 70-73 – Jewish leaders hold out at Masada (Jewish fortress
constructed by King Herod); siege ends in the suicides of the
Jewish leaders; considered major victory for the Flavians
Rome and Judaea
The Fortress of Masada, Israel
Roman Legacy
 “At any rate, from this or some other cause he
(Augustus) became ill, and sending for his associates,
he told them all his wishes, adding finally: "I found
Rome of clay; I leave it to you of marble.“ –Cassius
Dio, 56.30.3
 “Urbem neque pro maiestate imperii ornatam et
inundationibus incendiisque obnoxiam excoluit adeo, ut
iure sit gloriatus marmoream se relinquere, quam
latericiam accepisset.”
 “Since the city was not adorned as the dignity of the empire
demanded, and was exposed to flood and fire, he so beautified
it that he could justly boast that he had found it built of brick
and left it in marble.” –Suetonius, de Vita Divi Augusti, 28
 What legacy have the Romans left behind?