There is a place in Rome where the glorious history of the eternal city and myth merge together: we are talking about the Palatine Hill. It is here that the she-wolf nursed Romulus and Remus, the two twins of divine origin, and here, on April 21, 753 B.C., the city that would dominate the known world until then was born.
Located behind the Roman Forum and a few hundred meters from the Circus Maximus, the Colosseum, and the Tiber Island, the Palatine is one of the seven hills of Rome and is one of the oldest areas of the city. Today, the hill is a large open-air museum, visitable during the day and visited every year by thousands of tourists.
Geography
The hill, 51 meters above sea level, had two summits separated by a depression: the higher part was called Palatium, while the other, located towards the slope descending towards the Forum Boarium and the Tiber, was called Germalus. It was once connected to the adjacent Esquiline through the Velia hill, which was leveled when the Via dei Fori Imperiali was built.
Origins and Importance of the Hill in Imperial Times
Whether the myth of Romulus and the Foundation of Rome was more or less true, recent excavations have shown that rural populations already inhabited the hill around 1000 B.C. Additionally, the discovery of a city wall on the northern slopes of the hill, dating back to the 8th century B.C., confirmed the feasibility of the foundation of Rome in that historical period. From the Palatine, it was possible to control the adjacent course of the Tiber, and the proximity to the river allowed populations an excellent level of supply from ancient times.
The strategic position of this hill was later appreciated in the republican era when the most important families continued to build their homes here. Octavian Augustus himself wanted to build his residence here, right next to the area where Romulus’ hut once stood; part of the residence was reserved for his wife Livia Drusilla, the so-called “House of Livia,” and within Augustus’ residence, he built the Temple of Apollo Palatinus, with a large portico and libraries. After him, subsequent emperors also established their residences here; this happened until the fall of the Western Roman Empire. The ruins of the palaces of Augustus, Tiberius, and Domitian are still visible; the very term “palace” comes from the Latin “Palatium,” derived from Palatine.
The Significance of Palatine Hill
In the republican era and later in the imperial period, the Palatine was the seat of various cults, becoming at the same time the location of residences for the Roman ruling class. Among others, Marco Valerio Massimo, Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus, Marcus Livius Drusus, Cicero, Codius, Marcus Antonius, and Tiberius Claudius Nero lived here.
The Evolution of Palatine Hill
From the 16th century, the hill belonged to the Farnese family and was occupied by the Horti Palatini Farnesiorum, still partially preserved above the remains of the Domus Tiberiana. Archaeological excavations on the hill began in the 18th century and culminated at the end of the 19th century, after the proclamation of Rome as the capital of the Kingdom of Italy, continuing throughout the 20th century. The House of Augustus, the Lupercal, the Domus Aurea, the Domus Flavia, and the Domus Tiberiana came to light. From recent research, it is hypothesized that the various residences were connected to each other through underground corridors.
A Tour of Palatine Hill’s Archaeological Marvels
If you have already planned a tour of the Colosseum, a visit to the Palatine Hill to discover the ancient splendors that made Republican and Imperial Rome great is an appointment not to be missed. The entrance is located on Via di San Gregorio; alternatively, you can climb the Palatine by entering the Roman Forum and then ascending the Clivio Palatino, to the right of the Arch of Titus.
