Stories in stone

What we know today as the Colosseum wasn’t always called that, and the origin of its name has a fascinating backstory. The grand amphitheater was originally known as the Amphitheatrum Flavium, or Flavian Amphitheater, after the Flavian dynasty emperors—Vespasian, Titus, and Domitian—who constructed it. Romans originally referred to it simply as the Flavian Amphitheater, dedicated…

The story of Romulus and Remus, the twin brothers credited with founding Rome, is steeped in legend, and the central image of a she-wolf nursing the two brothers is one of its most enduring symbols. But why a she-wolf?1. Origins of the MythThe story begins with Rhea Silvia, the twins’ mother, a vestal virgin and…

The phrase Caput Mundi, or “Capital of the World,” captures the spirit of Rome’s dominance in the ancient world. It’s a Latin term meaning “head of the world,” and it highlights the cultural, military, and political influence Rome had over the Mediterranean and beyond for centuries. But how did this phrase come to embody Rome,…

Transporting travertine from Tivoli to ancient Rome required ingenuity and strength. The journey involved 30 kilometers (about 18.5 miles) across uneven terrain, a feat accomplished without modern technology. Romans initially used oxen-drawn sleds to pull the massive stones along dirt paths. For larger pieces, they engineered wooden rollers or wheeled carts, easing the load over…

When we think of a “palace,” we often imagine grandeur, towering columns, and luxurious residences of royalty or nobility. But have you ever wondered where the word itself comes from? The answer lies in Rome’s own Palatine Hill—one of the city’s famous seven hills and the birthplace of a term we use worldwide today.A Hill…