Rome Through the Centuries
Background material keyed to topics to be covered in the Autumn 1999 Rome Through the Centuries course of the English Programme of the GARNicole Fuget
Wednesdays 10 a.m. Sept. 29 -
Dec. 15
Ms. Nicole Fuget (center) with the Rome Through the Centuries
participants at rooftop level in Ostia Antica.
September 29: The Founding Myths of Rome
M.P.: GAR, via degli Scipioni 30/A
Aeneas and the Foundation of Rome
Legend of Aeneas and the Foundation of Rome
The Aeneid by Virgil
Chronology of Roman History: Romulus & Remus
Encyclopedia Mythica -- Romulus
Encyclopedia Mythica -- Quirinus
Encyclopedia Mythica -- Rhea SilviaThe home page of the Encyclopedia MythicaRomulus by Plutarch -- The Internet Classics ArchiveOther Internet Classics Archive titles (441 searchable works of classical literature) can be accessed at: The Internet Classics ArchiveHersilia: If Romulus was the Father of Rome, his wife(?), Hersilia (one of the raped Sabine women) was, of course, the Mother of Rome. (Rhea Silvia, the mother of Romulus and Remus, often gets the title of Mother of Rome, but that says more about the psychology of ancient Romans than we need to get into.) According to legend Romulus and Hersilia had two children, Prima, and Aolliusfrom the John Dryden translation of "Romulus" by Plutarch:
Now the signal for their falling on was to be whenever he rose and gathered up his robe and threw it over his body; his men stood all ready armed, with their eyes intent upon him, and when the sign was given, drawing their swords and falling on with a great shout they ravished away the daughters of the Sabines, they themselves flying without any let or hindrance. They say there were but thirty taken, and from them the Curiae or Fraternities were named; but Valerius Antias says five hundred and twenty-seven, Juba, six hundred and eighty-three virgins: which was indeed the greatest excuse Romulus could allege, namely, that they had taken no married woman, save one only, Hersilia by name, and her too unknowingly; which showed that they did not commit this rape wantonly, but with a design purely of forming alliance with their neighbours by the greatest and surest bonds. This Hersilia some say Hostilius married, a most eminent man among the Romans; others, Romulus himself, and that she bore two children to him,- a daughter, by reason of primogeniture called Prima, and one only son, whom, from the great concourse of citizens to him at that time, he called Aollius, but after ages Abillius. But Zenodotus the Troezenian, in giving this account, is contradicted by many.
October 6: A Visit to Ostia Antica
M.P.: Scavi di Ostia Antica, biglietteria
Ostia, Harbor of Ancient RomeInternet Group Ostia (IGO) site. One of the best single site Archeology pages on the Internet.Getting there, Map, Images
In Italy Online - Ostia Antica
LacusCurtius - OstiaBill Thayer's Lacus Curtius is one of the largest and best organized sites for Roman Archeology on the Internet. The linked page has only three pictures of Ostia (Thayer acknowledging the primacy of IGO, above), but I included the site to introduce Thayer's LacusCurtius site and Thayer's searchable Roman Gazetteer. Thayer's sites are in English, Italian, French, and Spanish.
October 13: Looking on the Spot for the Founding Myths of Rome
M.P.: Entrance to the Forum, in front of Via Cavour
Forum Area MapVery simple and easy to use.Forum Romanum - Central Area PhotoA photo showing the Temple of Antoninus and Faustina (left) and the Temple of Romulus (octagonal), both of which later became Christian Churches (S. Lorenzo in Miranda and Ss. Cosmos and Damien, respectively). There are links to photos of other parts of the Forum, and, more importantly, to the index page of Professor Leo C. Curran's award winning Maecenas Internet site. Maecenas has thousands of great, large format pictures of archeological sites in Italy and Rome (and elsewhere), most of which are taken by Curran. They are copyrighted, but he grants free non-commercial use.Temple of Romulus (FORVM ROMANUM)
Ficus Ruminalis (FORVM ROMANUM)The FORVM ROMANVMForum Romanum -Tempel des RomulusA winner in the annual international ThinkQuest competition for secondary school students. One of the best Roman Forum sites on the Internet.A small site in German with an interesting picture. Links to other Forum pages (German.)TEMPLE OF ROMULUS (Tulane)BRONZE DOORS (Tulane)Temple of Jupiter
Roman myth -- images
October 20: New Rooms at the Villa Giulia: the Forgotten History of the Etruscan People
M.P.: Museo National di Villa Giulia, viale della Belle Arti
The Etruscan Network: Internet ResourcesThis is a huge site with links to various categories of Etruscan information.Morlacchi CatalogueThe best image of the Villa GiuliaVilla Giulia (Accademia di Santa Cecilia)This site has the best short description and history of the Villa Giulia that I was able to find on the Internet. The Accademia offers summer concerts in the Villa Giulia. (Italian only)Villa Giulia, RomeSome nice pictures of the Villa Giulia Gardens from the Gardens section of the Visual Arts Library at Monash University in Australia.Villa GiuliaRoma2000 entry on the Museum. Roma 2000 is a tourism company, but its information on museums and monuments is concise and usually accurate.
October 27:
(Hypogeum/Via Salaria visit canceled due to dangerous conditions at the Hypogeum site -- Replacement program is in BLACK print below.
Via Salaria Vetus, Via Salaria Nove: the Hypogeum of Via Livenza and the Tombs of Via Salaria
AURELIAN'S WALLS - scroll down to "second diversion"The Aurelian Walls web site, of which this is a small part, is a guide to walking tours around the northern, eastern, and western Aurelian Walls (southern is still to be posted) and around the walls of the Vatican, with a few diversions to sites near the walls, such as the Hypogeum.Hypogeum of Via LivenzaA good description of the Hypogeum and a link to the rest of the award winning Subterranean Rome Internet siteTOMBS OF STS. CHRYSANTHUS AND DARIAOne of many Catholic Encyclopedia entries on burials along Via Salaria. Use any Search engine and enter +tomb* +"via salaria")
October 27: Barracco Museum and Subterranean Roman House
M.P.: Corso Vitt. Emanuele 168 (Corner Via Baullari, two blocks south of P. Navona).
(Via Baullari was famous for its luggage manufactories. "Un baule" is "a trunk", hence the old Roman expression "viaggiare come un baule"meaning "to travel like a trunk", that is, to learn nothing from your travels.)Barracco Museum Roma2000 entry
Roman House under the Museum Commune di Roma listing
Domus ai Baullari (Italian only) part of the Roma Sotterranea site, but not yet translated into English.
Monumenti antichi - Casa romana sotto il Museo Barracco English translation is on the lower half of the page. Scroll down.
November 3: Everyday Life in Rome: Museo della Civilta Romana
M.P: Piazzale G. Agnelli 10, (EUR)
Pompeii Yellow Pages an intriguing and information packed site
Ancient Rome Daily Life
Daily Roman Life -- U. Vermont
BBC Roman History
The Image of a Roman Family Pomerium site
Life in Antique Rome from Commune di Roma
Roman Life from Forum Romanum
Roman Festivals -- Every Day (almost) a Party
Rome -- Another ThinkQuest site
November 10: On the Slopes of the Aventine: One Thousand Years of Little Known Medieval History, from Rocca Savella to S. Alessio
M.P.: Piazzale Ugo la Malea, Mazzini's Statue
Republican Rome Map and descriptions of Rome's hills
Parco Savello inside Rocca Savella
ST. ALESSIO -- Catholic Encyclopedia
ST. PRISCA -- Cath. Encyclopedia
ST. SABINA -- Cath. EncyclopediaSanta Sabina Rome's best preserved Medieval ChurchExterior
ARCADE
WOODEN DOORS
DOOR PANEL
Legend of the Orange Tree