Splendore Dell' Antica Roma: The Splendors of Rome, Circa 1625
Rome in ancient times was the busy center of the Roman Empire, one of the largest empires of the ancient world. Rome, the city, was said to be founded in 753 B.C.E. by brothers Romulus and Remus. Almost from the beginning, it was a city of building projects and political struggle. Roman holdings grew from a kingdom to a vast empire, then dwindled again, dividing into the Western Empire, which fell in the 5th century, and the Eastern Empire, which held on for another 1,000 years. The city of Rome is located in the Western Empire. Since the first century C.E., the city of Rome has been the center of the Catholic papacy, becoming the capital of the Papal States until 1870. In 1871, Rome became the capital of the kingdom of Italy, and in 1946, the capital of the Italian Republic.
A schism in 1377 brought about a 40-year period that nearly devastated the church. In 1418, the Council of Constance brought relative peace to Rome and marked the onset of the Italian Renaissance. A succession of wealthy popes transformed the city into a center of art, culture, and building projects. It also became a tourist destination.
Long a site for religious pilgrimages, Rome became an essential destination as the notion of the Grand Tour took hold among the wealthier citizens of Europe. The Grand Tour served to provide a liberal education for participants and allowed them to see not only the antiquities and ruins of Rome, but also the new splendors.
Quite a number of authors and artists took advantage of this Grand Tour idea, producing books that served as guidebooks on a broad range of Roman art and architectural features. One such book is Splendore Dell' Antica Roma, engraved by Giacomo Lauro. The book went through several iterations and titles. It was first published as Antiquae Urbis Splendor and issued in three books. Compilations were later published with the addition of a fourth part. Engraver Lauro illustrated ruins of Rome as well as reconstructions. He included secular buildings as well as religious structures, and also illustrated Roman customs, burial sites, and gardens. He even included several maps.
The Savannah Library’s Special Collections copy has several title pages, the first dated 1625 with a publication place of Rome. The book can be described as an exhaustive and influential work on the monuments and antiquities of ancient and modern Rome. Comprised chiefly of the 1625 second edition, with additional plates and indices from other editions, it appears to be an early compilation of material from the several early editions with a number of variations. The book has 160 plates, including maps and illustrated title pages. Text in Latin describes each plate. Additional information on the back of many of the plates describes the image in Italian, French, and German, as well, with titles in Italian.
Here, the book is presented leaf-by-leaf. The records are shown in sets of two images: the Recto and Verso of each leaf. The book is not paginated, so leaf numbers have been assigned by the library. Some of the images have been dated separately, and that date is recorded in the “date created” field. Information is also provided as to what the site represents today and its modern use.
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Baths of Agrippa. The Baths of Agrippa were the earliest great baths of Rome. It was a large hot air bath built in 25 BC built by Agrippa, a friend of the Emperor Augustus. When he died, he left the bath to the people of Rome. They did burn, but were restored by Titus or Domitian and later again by Constantius. This bath was also near the Pantheon.
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Baths of Diocletian and Maximian between the Quirinal and Viminal Hills. The baths were built between 298 - 306. The baths could accommodate almost 3000 bathers at one time, almost double the number of Caracalla, though they were not much larger in area. The baths also contained gymnasia, libraries, and a swimming pool in addition to the typical cold, tepid, and hot baths. Later, Michelangelo converted one of the baths into the Basilica of St. Mary and the Angels. Part of the complex is now part of the National Museum of Rome.
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Remains of the Baths of Diocletian. The aqueduct carrying the water to the baths was destroyed by invading Goths in 537 AD. Parts of the structure were incorporated into other buildings. San Bernardo alle Terme Church, Santa Maria degli Angeli Church, and the Aula Ottagona all have incorporated parts of the baths into their structures. The cloister area is now part of the National Roman Museum.
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The Baths of Vespasian and Titus. The Baths of Titus, son of Vespasian, were built quickly in 81 AD so they could be opened and dedicated at the same time as the Colosseum. They were located nest to Nero's Golden House. The Baths of Trajan were built next to them a few years later. Hadrian restores the baths in 238.
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Baths of Aurelian in the Transtiberina. The Transtiberina is a region of Tome on the west bank of the Tiber River, and south of the Vatican. It is now called the Trastevere. The Trastibernia was included inside the wall put up by Emperor Aurilian around 271 AD. The baths were built in the Trastevere Region by Emperor Aurelian and their remains can still be seen.
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The baths of the Emperor Trajan on the Aventine Hill. The baths of Trajan were built on the site of Nero's Golden House with construction beginning around 104 AD and the dedication in 109 AD. These baths served as a model for later baths with hot, warm, cold, and exercise rooms and a swimming pool. Surrounding the baths was a garden with the outer area for libraries, lecture halls, and community centers. In Trajan's time, these baths were used primarily by women.
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Baths of Constantine, on the Quirinal Hill. The Baths of Constantine were built around 315 AD at the top of the Quirinal Hill. Water came from the Aqua Marcia Aqueduct, which also supplied the Baths of Diocletian. Constantine's Baths were small in comparison with other baths in Rome and it is speculated that perhaps they were more exclusive. Little survives from the baths except several important statues.
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The baths of Septimius Severus in the Transtiberina Region. There were possibly two baths built by Septimius Severus. The larger ones were near the Stadium of Domitian on the Palatine Hill. The baths referred to here were called the Septimian Baths and were located near the Porta Septimiana in the Transtiberina Region.
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The Circus Flaminius. The Circus Flaminus did not have permanent seating like the Circus Maximus, and that made its uses more flexible. It was located in the Campus Flaminius. While Gaius Flaminius did significantly develop the area, it was called the Flaminian Fields before his role as consul.
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The Hippodrome of Aurelius. While it seems Emperor Aurelian had a very busy reign, no information about a Hippodrome bearing his name could be found. What it might refer to is Amphitheater Castrense, built into the Aurelian Wall. When Emperor Aurelian decided to fortify the city by walling it, several larger existing structures were incorporated into the fortifications. It may have been an arena for military entertainment.
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The Circus Flora in Sallustio. The Horti Sallustiani was a luxurious garden in ancient Rome that spread over the Pincio and Quirinal Hills. What remains is an obelisk that is now above the Spanish Steps, the vestibule in the Piazza Sallustion, and what has been referred to as the "supposed circus of Flora". One source suggests that there was no Circus of Flora, but there were Games of Flora which were held in the Circus Maximus.
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The Circus of Nero was built beginning around 40 AD. Gaius (Caligula) and Nero were both participants in races. Caligula placed an obelisk in the circus that is now in the middle of St. Peter's Square. The circus is often credited to both Gaius and Nero.
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Circus Maximus. The Roman circus was designed for chariot races, though other events were held in these arenas.
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The Circus Agonalis, now Piazza Navona.
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The Naumachia of Nero. A Naumachia refers to a representation of a naval battle among the Romans, and also to the places where such exhibitions took place.
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The House of Publius Valerius Publicola. In the sixth century BC, after banishing the monarchy, there was a power struggle between Tarquin the Proud and Lucius Junius Brutus. Brutus won, but his victory was short lived as he died in battle. Publius Valerius emerged and became the sole ruler of Rome. He called himself the Consul and not emperor.
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The House of Augustus on the Palatine Hill. The Emperor's residence is called the Palatium, and this one appears to be that of Emperor Augustus, first emperor of Rome. It is said that he built his house on the site where Romulus had built his. Augustus lived in the house from from 63 BC to 14 AD. Some of the house still remains and is known for its frescoes and mosaics.
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Ruins of the Palace of Augustus and the Circus Maximus on the Palatine Hill. While the title seems to indicate that this was the Palace of Augustus, the image depicts the Domus Augustana.
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The Palace of Constantine. The palace of the family of the Laterani came into the hands of Constantine, through his wife Fausta. Constantine donated it to the Church in the time of Miltiades, around 311. It was used as the residence of the popes for about 1000 years until the departure of the popes from Rome during the Avignon period. A small structure is on the site now.
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The House and Baths of Gordianus in Via Praenestina. Marcus Antonius Gordianus Africanus Sempronianus Romanus, 159 - 238, better known as Gordian I, was Roman emperor, ruling with his son, Gordian II and grandson, Gordian III, for a few weeks in March and April of the 238. Previously, he had devoted his career to military pursuits and was Proconsul of Africa. As a young man he had been a poet. The family was quite wealthy. The Via Praenestina was the name of one of the roads that began at the Porta Esquilina at Rome, and led to Praeneste, now called Palestrina, 22 miles from Rome. About 3 miles from Rome was the imperial villa of the Gordians. There are still ruins at the site called Torre dei Schiavi.
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The House of Marcus Tullius Cicero. The information below is excerpted (with some edits) from A Topographical Dictionary of Ancient Rome. Domus, M. Tullius Cicero or the House of Marcus Tullius Cicero is located on the north-east side of the Palatine hill, overlooking the forum. Cicero bought this house in 62 B.C. from Marcus Crassus. It was built on the site previously occupied by the house of the tribune M. Livius Drusus. When Cicero was banished, Clodius burned his house, enlarged the porticus of Catulus, and erected a shrine of Libertas. After Cicero's recall legal proceedings were instituted, and he recovered the site, and damages sufficient to partially rebuild the house. The house afterwards belonged to L. Marcius Censorinus, consul in 39 B.C., and to Statilius Sisenna, consul in 16 A.D.
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The House of Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus. Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus Major, circa 237-183 BC, was the Roman general who commanded the invasion of Carthage in the second Punic War and defeated Hannibal at Zama. In spite of his victory, his political career was unsettled and he retired to his home at Liternum on the coast of Campania, where he died at the age of 54.
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The Domus Aurea or "Golden House" was a large landscaped villa built by the Emperor Nero. Built after the great fire of 64 AD, the house was located in the heart of ancient Rome. Built of brick and concrete and covered with the gold leaf that gave the villa its name, the house was extravagant. Ceilings were faced with semi-precious stones and ivory veneers, floors were mosaic, and the walls were frescoed. The complex was designed to be a place of entertainment. Nero maintained his own palace on the Quirinal Hill. The original size of the complex is not known as it has not all been excavated yet.
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The Tower and Gardens of Maecenas. The Gardens were planted over a former graveyard on the Esquiline Hill by Maecenas who was an advisor to Augustus and patron of poets such as Virgil and Horace. Suetonius and other sources reported that the gardens contained a tall tower. After Maecenas' death, the gardens became an imperial property. It is said that Maecenas had the first heated swimming pool in Rome.
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- English
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