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Later the hill was inhabited by wealthy
and rich Romans who, attracted by the splendid position,
built here their own villas and palaces. Here, in 63
b.C., was born Ottaviano, who later adopted by Julius
Caesar, became the first emperor of Rome with the name
of Augustus. His very simple lifestyle and his attachment
to the site, had him chose the Palatine as the ideal
place to have his Imperial Palace built, the Domus Augustana,
which was consacreted in 26 b.C. The main portal in
marble was ornated by an enourmous group of statues
so that the visitor, entering, had before his eyes an
incredible show of beauty.
In this group of edifices the first
one was an immense Library, with Latin and Greek works,
in the middle of which there was a large reading room,
ornated with the statue in bronze of Augustus, and all
around the walls portraits in bronze and silver of writers
and personalities of that time. Augustus held frequently
literary entertainments and plays in which only the
best men of arts could take part. After the library
stood the temple of Apollus, built entirely in Carrara
marble, with a carved ivory portal. In front of the
palace there was a temple dedicated to Vesta. Today
the only part fairly preserved of the buildings dating
back to those times is the “House of Livia”,
faithful wife of the first Roman emperor who closed
in self exile after the death of her beloved husband
till the last of her days. At Augustus’ death
his successors found excellent the idea of living on
the Palatine, so the hill became the official site of
the imperial residences. The emperor Tiberius, follower
of Augustus, had the Domus Tiberiana built, which is
today completely covered by the Farnese Gardens. The
most monumental place of the Palatine is the Domus Flavia
erected by Domitian. The rooms were specially designed
for parties and solemn ceremonies. The central part
was a basilica, where important trials were run before
the emperor. It came then the Throne Room, were official
ceremonies were held. Behind these rooms there was a
courtyard, the Peristyle, surrounded by a portico with
enormous columns, at its centre there was a fountain.
At the sides of the peristyle there were baths and official
rooms. Beyond the peristyle there was a Triclinium,
the dining room, the Ninpheum at its flank, with a large
fountain, was used instead as summer dining room. With
the Settizonio Settimio Severo completed the imperial
Palaces upon the Palatine. The edifice was demolished
by the pope Sixtus V, but the beautiful terrace from
which it is possible to enjoy one of the best panoramas
is still preserved. Together with the palace Settimio
Severo built also the thermal baths – which were
missing in the imperial palaces – of which we
still have traces in the conduits. It is important to
name also the Pedagogium, were the members of the imperial
guard were specially trained. The stadium is another
indipendent building. It was Domitian who erected it
for olympic games and military trainings. Like the Forum
also the imperial palaces were abandoned. In the Middle
Ages strongholds and gardens of rich families were built
here. The Farnese and the Barberini families created
here parks and vineyards. In particular the “Horti
Farnesiani” one of the richest botanical gardens
of that time |
