The History of Roman Landmarks

By: Hayli Balgobin

The Roman empire started it all. They created the culture, religion, and language throughout Rome. Along the way they left historical landmarks. People come all around the world to see these ancient ruins, but there is no point if you do not know the history behind them.

The Colosseum

The Colosseum is also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre, and it was a place for entertainment. It was built in 72 CE, and it is located east of Palatine Hill.

It is made from stone and concrete with an overhead that blocked the audience from the scorching sun and dreadful rain. It consists of barrel vaults and groin vaults, measuring to be about 620 by 513 feet.

The arena could seat almost 50,000 people. They all came to see a show between the gladiators, who fought with swords and other weapons, and the giant beasts. The colosseum changed in the medieval times from an arena of blood to a place of prayer by the Frangipane and the Annibaldi families.

Trina with a visual aid depicting what the colosseum looked like during the age of the Romans.

Overtime, lightning strikes and earthquakes damaged the Colosseum, which is why there are missing parts, and it is not complete. In the 19th century, people started to preserve its remaining pieces. The ruins that still stand are admired by all who come to see it.

Trina is a tour guide at the Colosseum and knows the history that resides within the dome. “I have to say the most interesting part about the Colosseum is the underground section, called the hypogeum. Emperor Domitian added this section to hold the animals that would fight the gladiators. It was also a place where they held their enemy’s captive,” said Trina. “I could not imagine

living in a time like this. The gladiator shows seem so inhumane, but it was part of the culture. I wonder if I would have enjoyed them like others did, or if I would have a more modern opinion on it?”

The Roman Forum

The Roman Forum is in the center of Rome near the Colosseum. It was founded in 753 BC by

All that remains of the Temple of Castor and Pollux are three pillars.

Romulus and Remus. However, the brothers conflicted, and Romulus killed Remus for the throne. It was made into a meeting zone when Romulus created an alliance with Titus.

It was essentially used as a meeting point, but it was originally a shopping market. As the city began to grow, emperors like Julius Caesar and Augustus expanded the forum to accommodate more for more people.

The Temple of Castor and Pollux is composed of three different pillars and was dedicated to the Roman twin demi-gods, Castor and Pollux of Gemini. It was built in 484 BC for the victory of the Battle of Lake Regillus. It was used by the Roman Senate as a meeting area, but it was transformed into a speaker’s platform.

The Trevi Fountain

“If you only have one day in Italy, you must see the Trevi Fountain,” said uber driver, Daniel Randoff. “It is extremely crowded, but you cannot come to Rome and not see its beauty.”

No matter who you ask, everyone has the Trevi Fountain on their bucket list when visiting Rome. The best time to visit it is early in the morning because as the day goes by. the crowds start to fill up.

Taxi driver, Danielle, talks about his experience in Rome. He tries to help tourists get the best vacation possible.

It is in the center of Rome, and the Gods of water are carved into Travertine stone, which is the same material used to create the Colosseum. In 1739, the Trevi Fountain was built by contest winner Nicola Salvi, held by Pope Clement XII. He was not capable of finishing the fountain, but with the help of Giuseppe Pannini it was built in 1762.

Legend says throwing a coin in the fountain will bring good fortune. The tradition derived from the movie Three Coins in the Fountain. There are over 3,000 euros in the fountain. Three times a week the coins are collected and sent to rebuild the cities historical ruins.

“So, three different coins receive three different fortunes,” said Daniel. “First you have to throw over your left shoulder with your right hand. If you throw one coin, it means you will return to Rome. If you throw two coins, you will return to Rome and encounter a new romance. If you throw three coins, you will return to Rome and marry your new love.”

The Pantheon

The eighth wonder of the ancient world is the Pantheon. It was built in 125 CE, and it was the best-preserved building in ancient Rome.

The Pantheon was used by the emperor for public appearances. It allowed him to emphasize his status and look like an equal to the statues of Venus, Mars, and Julius Caesar.

Before the pantheon we all know today there were two others in the same spot. The first was endorsed by Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, and it was destroyed by a fire in 80 CE. The second was struck by lightning in 110 CE and burned down. Hardin was on a mission to rebuild old monuments and commissioned the construction of the third and last Pantheon.

The Spanish Steps

The last famous monument that you must visit on your trip to Rome is the Spanish Steps. It was built in 1725 with 135 steps. The steps were built due to a large debate between the Spanish and French plazas on what to do with the slope.

The stairway was designed by Francesco de Sanctis and Alessandro Specchi and it was dedicated to the Bourbon Spanish Embassy. There are carvings of the fleurs-de-lis of the Bourbon family.

At the bottom of the staircase lies the Fontana della Barcaccia, which was built by Pietro Bernini. It was inspired by the flooding of the Tiber River. The fountain adds a relaxing essence to the beauty of the staircase.

These five monuments are the reason why Rome is one everybody’s bucket list. There is always something new to learn at these sites. You can always look up pictures, but nothing is quite amazing than to see these landmarks firsthand.