Rome Archaeology 1 - Coliseum: The Colosseum or Coliseum, also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre or Colosseo is an oval amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome, Italy. Built of concrete and sand, it is the largest amphitheatre ever built.

Rome Archaeology 2 - Coliseum: Construction began under the emperor Vespasian in 72 AD and was completed in 80 AD under his successor and heir Titus. Further modifications were made during the reign of Domitian (81–96) It is estimated that the Colosseum could hold between 50,000 and 80,000 spectators with an average attendence of 65,000.

Rome Archaeology 3 - Coliseum: It was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles such as mock sea battles, animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous battles, and dramas based on Classical mythology up until the Medival era when it was re-used for housing and workshops.

Rome Archaeology 4 - Coliseum: The Colosseum is an entirely free-standing structure. The arena itself was 83 meters by 48 meters (272 ft by 157 ft / 280 by 163 Roman feet). It is elliptical in plan and is 189 meters (615 ft / 640 Roman feet) long, and 156 meters (510 ft / 528 Roman feet) wide, with a base area of 24,000 square metres (6 acres).

Rome Archaeology 5 - Coliseum: The height of the outer wall is 48 meters (157 ft / 165 Roman feet). The perimeter originally measured 545 meters (1,788 ft / 1,835 Roman feet). The central arena is an oval 87 m (287 ft) long and 55 m (180 ft) wide, surrounded by a wall 5 m (15 ft) high, above which rose tiers of seating.

Rome Archaeology 6 - Coliseum: Animal hunt shows utilized a great variety of wild beasts, mainly imported from Africa and the Middle East, and included creatures such as rhinoceros, hippopotamuses, elephants, giraffes, aurochs, wisents, Barbary lions, panthers, leopards, bears, Caspian tigers, crocodiles and ostriches.

Rome Archaeology 7 - Forum Romanum, Temple of Antoninus and Faustina: The temple was begun in 141 AD by the Emperor Antoninus Pius and was initially dedicated to his deceased and deified wife, Faustina the Elder. When Antoninus Pius was deified after his death in 161 AD, the temple was re-dedicated jointly to Antoninus and Faustina at the instigation of his successor, Marcus Aurelius.

Rome Archaeology 8 - Forum Romanum, Temple of Antoninus and Faustina: The temple was converted to a Roman Catholic church, known as San Lorenzo in Miranda, as early as the seventh century. "Miranda" may derive from the name of a benefactress. It was then thought that this was where St Lawrence had been sentenced to death.

Rome Archaeology 9 - Roman Forum, The Temple of Saturn: is a temple to the god Saturn in ancient Rome. The original dedication of a temple to Saturn was traditionally dated to 497 BC, but ancient writers disagreed greatly about the history of this site. The ruins of the temple stand at the foot of the Capitoline Hill in the western end of the Forum Romanum.

Rome Archaeology 10 - Roman Forum, House of the Vestal Virgins: The House of the Vestal Virgins (Latin: Atrium Vestae) was the residence of Vestal Virgins. The Atrium Vestae was a three-story 50-room palace in the ancient Roman Forum built around an elegant elongated atrium or court with a double pool. To the very east is an open vaulted hall with a statue of Numa Pompilius, the mythological founder of the cult

Rome Archaeology 11 - Trajan's Column:Completed in AD 113, the freestanding column is most famous for its spiral bas relief, which artistically describes the epic wars between the Romans and Dacians (101–102 and 105–106). The structure is about 30 metres (98 ft) in height, 35 metres (125 ft) including its large pedestal. The shaft is made from a series of 20 colossal Carrara marble drums, each weighing about 32 tons.

Rome Archaeology 12 - Roman Furum, The Temple of Saturn: The surviving ruins of the temple stand on a pediment of travertine blocks and are themselves composed of pieces recycled from earlier temples. Temple construction is thought to have begun under Tarquinius Superbus. Its inauguration by the Consul Titus Lartius took place in the early years of the Republic.

Rome Archaeology 13 - Roman Forum, Saturn temple: The temple was completely reconstructed by Munatius Plancus in 42 BC. The present ruins represent the third incarnation of the Temple of Saturn, replacing a second incarnation that had been destroyed by the fire of Carinus in 283 AD. Within the temple once stood a cult statue of Saturn which became the centre of attention during the Saturnalia when his feet were symbolically freed from the woollen bonds that tied him up for the rest of the year.

Rome Archaeology 14 - Tomb of Romulus in Church of Santi Cosma e Damiano : The Temple of Romulus was dedicated by Emperor Maxentius to his son Valerius Romulus, who died in childhood in 309 and was rendered divine honours. It is possible that the temple was originally the temple of "Jupiter Stator" or the one dedicated to Penates, and that Maxentius restored it before the re-dedication.

Rome Archaeology 15 - Roman Forum, Imperial Ramp: The 2,000-year-old “imperial ramp” descended from the top of the Palatine Hill to the temples, market places and courts of the Forum below, from where the Roman Empire was governed. Lit by torches and protected by guards, the passageway, with 11-metre-high ceilings, was so vast that emperors could have comfortably passed through it on horseback.

Rome Archaeology 16 - Roman Forum, The Dioscuri with their horses: According to legend Castor and Pollux appeared on the battlefield as two able horsemen in aid of the Republic; and after the battle had been won they again appeared on the Forum in Rome watering their horses at the Spring of Juturna thereby announcing the victory. The temple stands on the supposed spot of their appearance.

Rome Archaeology 17 - Roman Forum: The Roman Forum is a rectangular forum (plaza) surrounded by the ruins of several important ancient government buildings. Citizens of the ancient city referred to this space, originally a marketplace, as the Forum Magnum, or simply the Forum. It was for centuries the center of Roman public life: the site of triumphal processions and elections; the venue for public speeches, criminal trials, and gladiatorial matches; and the nucleus of commercial affairs

Rome Archaeology 18 - Roman Forum, Fresco in the Oratory: It was commissioned by the Emperor Domitian in the late first century AD at the height of his reign. The walls are still decorated with frescoes of "the 40 martyrs", Roman soldiers from the XII Legion who converted to Christianity. The sumptuousness of the complex did the emperor little good in the end – he became paranoid and reclusive and was assassinated by courtiers inside the palace in AD 96, at the age of 44.

Rome Archaeology 19 - Domus Augustana Palatine Hill : The Palatine Hill is the centermost of the Seven Hills of Rome and is one of the most ancient parts of the city. It stands 40 metres above the Forum Romanum, looking down upon it on one side, and upon the Circus Maximus on the other. According to Roman mythology, the Palatine Hill was the location of the cave, known as the Lupercal, where Romulus and Remus were found by the she-wolf Lupa that kept them alive.

Rome Archaeology 20 - Domus Augusti Palatine Hill: The House of Augustus, or the Domus Augusti (but also Domus Augustea), is the first major site upon entering the Palatine Hill in Rome, Italy. It served as the primary residence of Caesar Augustus during his reign. After being awarded tribunica potestas for life in 23 BC, Octavian decided to buy the house of Quintus Hortensius on the Palatine and make it his primary place of residence.

Rome Archaeology 21 - Domus Flavia, Audience Chamber, Palatine Hill: The Flavian Palace, also known as Domus Flavia, is a part of the vast residential complex of the Roman Emperors on the Palatine Hill in Rome. It was completed in 92 AD in the reign of Titus Flavius Domitianus, more commonly known as the Emperor Domitian, and attributed to his master architect, Rabirius.

Rome Archaeology 22 - Domus Augustana, Palatine Hill: The Domus Augustana on the Palatine Hill was a magnificent palace used as the residence of Rome’s emperors. Built by the Emperor Domitian, the incredible remains of the Domus Augustana include a remarkable courtyard with the remnants of a fountain and many of its walls.

Rome Archaeology 23 - Domus Augustana, Palatine Hill: Augustus, Cicero, and Marc Antony (Marcus Antonius) all had homes on the hill. Later, emperors built their domains here and, at one point, the entire hill was covered with imperial palaces. The hill became synonymous with palaces; in fact in many languages, including English, the word 'palace' is derived from 'palatine'.

Rome Archaeology 24 - Hippodrome Stadium of Domitian, Palatine Hill: Palatine Hill: imperial palace of the emperor Domitian (51-96 AD). It is still uncertain the precise function of this large building. The stadium was part of the imperial palace and was surrounded by a two-story portico. Maybe it was not just an hippodrome, but more in general, it was the “viridarium” (the garden), private place where the emperor he could walk on sunny days and watch the races.

Rome Archaeology 25 - Trajan's Market: Trajan's Market was probably built in 100-110 AD and is thought to be the world's oldest shopping mall, the arcades in Trajan's Market are now believed by many to be administrative offices for Emperor Trajan. The shops and apartments were built in a multi-level structure, and it is still possible to visit several of the levels. Highlights include delicate marble floors and the remains of a library.

Rome Archaeology 26 - Forum Of Nerva: The Forum of Nerva was the fourth and smallest of the imperial fora. Its construction was started by Emperor Domitian before the year 85 AD, but officially completed and opened by his successor, Nerva, in 97 AD, hence its official name. It is also referred to as the "Transient Forum" (Forum Transitorium) from its function and location between Forum of Augustus and Forum of Vespasian.

Rome Archaeology 27 - Forum Of Augustus: Construction did not begin on the Forum until around 20 BC, when Augustus avenged Rome. The Forum of Augustus was built to both house a temple honoring Mars, and to provide another space for legal proceedings, as the Roman Forum was very crowded. Before battle, military generals set off from the Temple of Mars, after attending a commencement ceremony.

Rome Archaeology 28 - Theatre of Marcellus: The Theatre of Marcellus is an ancient open-air theatre in Rome, Italy, built in the closing years of the Roman Republic. At the theatre, locals and visitors alike were able to watch performances of drama and song. The theatre was 111 m in diameter and was the largest and most important theatre in Ancient Rome; it could originally hold between 11,000 and 20,000 spectators.

Rome Archaeology 29 - Largo di Torre Argentina: Largo di Torre Argentina is a central square in Rome a short walk from Piazza Venezia and contains the ruins of four Roman Temples. They are mostly ruins and not much to look at, but this is the place where Brutus was believed to have killed Julius Caesar.

Rome Archaeology 30 - Temple of Hadrian: The Temple of Hadrian is a temple to the deified Hadrian on the Campus Martius, built by his adoptive son and successor Antoninus Pius in 145 and now incorporated into a later building in the Piazza di Pietra (Piazza of Stone – derived from use of the temple's stones to build the piazza). It was once erroneously known as the Temple of Neptune.