One of the most antique cities in Europe, ancient Rome has existed for 2,700 years. Since then, it has been continuously populated, and, as headquarters first of the Roman Empire and then of the Roman Catholic Church, Rome has had a meaningful impact on the world. Rome must be one of the most successful supreme powers in antiquity. In centenaries, Rome grew from a modest town on the Tiber River into a vast union that ultimately included England, all of continental Europe west of the Rhine and south of the Danube, most of Asia west of the Euphrates, northern Africa, and the islands of the Mediterranean.
Roman nation, throughout the republic, was ruled by a powerful Rome military ethos. While this helps explain the incessant warfare, it does not account for Rome’s success as an imperial power. Many European languages are based on Latin. Many political and legal policies follow the ancient Roman model, and buildings worldwide use styles and techniques perfected in ancient Rome. Today’s Rome has become the world’s most famous open-air museum. The city itself retains layers of buildings spanning over two millennia.
Best sites of the Ancient Rome
Colosseum
The Colosseum is the central symbol of Rome. It is an impressive structure that, with nearly 2,000 years of antiquity, will bring you back to ancient Rome. Recognized as the Flavian Amphitheater, the Colosseum is one of Rome’s most remarkable masterpieces. The Colosseum is one of Rome’s best attractions and every year above 6 million people visit it.
Roman Forum
Roman Forum is placed between Piazza Venezia and the Colosseum. It was the hub of the Roman citizens’ political and social activity and where religious and public life in ancient Rome took place. The Roman Forum is one of the most attractive and impressive places in the town, so it is easy to waste many hours walking among its temples without getting bored!
Appia Antica
The Appian Way was Europe’s first superhighway and remained one of the best attractions from ancient Rome. One of the best ideas to enjoy the sunny Roman weather and feel like you’re moving back in time is to take a walk along the Appian Way.
Pantheon
The Pantheon was a Roman temple with a surprising oculus that is the building’s primary source of natural light; there are no windows beside it. The Pantheon, also known as the Roman Pantheon, is one of Rome’s best attractions and is one of the Italian capital’s architectural masterpieces. It is the best-preserved building from ancient Rome.
Rome’s foundation myth
Although Greek historiographers did not write seriously about Rome until the Pyrrhic War, they were aware of Rome’s existence long before then. Greek historians from the 5th century BC onward created at least 25 different myths to account for Rome’s foundation. One of the earliest statements, which became affirmed, the Trojan hero Aeneas and some members escaped Troy’s Greek destruction. After wandering about the Mediterranean for some years, they settled in central Italy, intermarried with the native population, and became the Latins.
Although Rome and Troy’s connection is unhistorical, the Romans of a later period were so flattered by this illustrious unreal pedigree that they quickly accepted it and included it into their folklore about the beginning of their town. Roman historians knew that the government had begun about 500 BC because their annual list of magistrates went back that far. Before that period, they thought, Rome had been commanded by seven kings in succession. Using Greek genealogical judgment techniques, they estimated that seven kings would have controlled about 250 years, thus making Rome’s majestic period start in the middle of the 8th century BC.
According to myth, the twins, believed to have been the god Mars children, were set adrift in a basket on the Tiber by Alba’s king; they survived, being nursed by a she-wolf, and lived to overthrow the wicked king. In the course of founding Rome, the brothers quarreled, and Romulus slew Remus.