ROMA ANTICA

Speranza




The Seven Hills of Rome

Of Early Rome: Cermalus Cispius Fagutal Oppius Palatium Sucusa Velia Of Later Rome: Aventinus (Aventine) Caelius (Caelian) Capitolium (Capitoline) Esquiliae (Esquiline) Palatium (Palatine) Quirinalis (Quirinal) Viminalis (Viminal)

Though the 

CAMPIDOGLIO

is the only distinct hill today, all seven hills were once discernable.

The

Quirinale,

Viminale,

Esquilino, and

Caeliano

 hills are really promontories of an ancient volcanic ridge.

The Palatino,

Aventino, and

Campidoglio

 hills were hills separate from the others (not part of the same ancient ridge).

There were once marshy ravines between all of the hills, and between the hills and the Tiber River, but these were drained in antiquity and the ravines are now filled in with the remains of civilisation.

Archaeological evidence supports the notion that there were walled cities on EACH of the seven original hills.

It also suggests that there was a wall that surrounded the

Palatine,

Esquiline,

Velian, and

Caelian

hills but left out the

OPEN Capitoline,

OPEN Quirinal, and

OPEN Viminal hills.

Historians and Archaeologists have found evidence of ancient enmity between peoples living on the

 

Quirinal and

Esquiline hills against those on the

 

Velian and

Palatine

 

hills.

This could help explain the reasons for choosing

Remo and

Romolo

as leaders of the warring peoples living on the

Aventine and

Palatine

hills respectively.
--------------------------

HILLS A to Z.

1) Aventine: Mons/Collis Aventinus

 

This hill is where Remo chose to live.

In historical times it was the home of the plebeans, who built a temple to Ceres in the 5th century BCE.

It also had temples for Liber and Libera.

2) Caelian: Mons/Collis Caelius

 

Many of Rome's elite lived on this hill during the Roman Republic.

3) Campidoglio: Mons/Collis Capitolinus

 

This hill was the site of many of Rome's earliest fortresses.

It was also the hill of the government.

The temples of GIOVE Optimus Maximus,

GIUNO Moneta, and Concord are located on this hill.

4) Esquiline: Mons/Collis Esquilinus

 

This hill had a walled city on it since at least the 700s BCE.

5) Palatine: Mons/Collis Palatinus

 

This hill is the hill of Romulus.

In Classical times it was the hill where Rome's rich and powerful chose to live.

Walled villages and tombs have been found here, and the people who lived in those villages seem to be dominant to their contemporaries since the 700s BCE.

The temple of Magna Mater is located on the Palatine.

6) Quirinal: Mons/Collis Quirinalis

 

It is on this hill that the Sabines once lived and built their city.

Archaeological evidence supports habitation of this hill since at least the 8th century BCE through tomb and walled village excavations.

7) Viminalis: Mons/Collis Viminalis

This is the smallest of the Seven Great Hills, and was one of the last to be included inside the walls of Rome.