Companion site to the podcast series
Transcript: The Ludus Magnus is located immediately east of the Colosseum. Translated as the ‘big training ground’ this was the largest and most prestigious gladiatorial school and barracks in ancient Rome. It is one of four centers where gladiators from across the Roman Empire would live, eat, and practice while preparing for their participation in…
Transcript: Given the splendor of the Vittorio Emanuele monument towering above you and your likely eagerness to go up to the museums lining the sides of the Piazza del Campidoglio, it would be easy to miss a somewhat modest remnant of common-day ancient city living. Let’s take just a couple of minutes to check-out something…
Transcript: The Colosseum is the largest amphitheater built during the Roman Empire. It is considered one of the greatest works of architecture and engineering in ancient Rome. We’re going to start this tour assuming your standing outside – perhaps queuing to get inside. This still magnificent building was paid for largely by the 50,000 kg…
Transcript: The Ara Pacis Augustae (Altar of Augustan Peace) is a sacrificial altar commissioned by the Roman Senate on July 4, 13 BCE to honor the triumphal return of emperor Augustus from his campaigns in Hispania and Gaul (regions that we would now refer to as Spain and France). It was consecrated after 4 years…
Transcript: This description and tour starts in the Pizza della Rotonda (that’s the open square just north of the Pantheon). Before going inside its useful to understand something of the Pantheon’s history and design, this is best done by standing in the square, some distance away from the front portico and to one side of…
Transcript You’re listening to an Audio Guide to Ancient Rome. Each episode in this series gives you the history and a short tour of a site in the eternal city in the hope that you can make the most of your visit. For an interactive map of the locations covered go to rome-podcast.com My name…