Tour of Classic Rome

       Rome reached its peak of architectural development in 320 A.D. It was divided into two parts by the Tiber River, and on one side, the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus was a grand temple, the main temple of the state cult, on top of the Capitoline Hill, one of the seven canonical hills of Rome. The imperial palace of the emperor was located on the Palatine Hill, another one of the hills. Nearby was the Circus Maximus; the emperor was fond of the circus games, such as chariot racing and animal hunts, as well as parades. The Colosseum was built on top of a lake in Nero's old palace, and the best seats were closest to the arena, reserved for the emperor, top office-holders, and the priests. The very top was for women, slaves, and foreigners. The most popular things to watch at the Colosseum were the gladiator fights, the animal hunts, and the colorful executions of criminals.
      The aqueducts were a great achievement of Roman architecture, as well as a necessary component to keep the huge city running properly. They were able to keep the water flowing at a constant, gentle speed, from the mountains to the city by using the right amount of gravitational pull and calculating a slope of one foot every two thousand feet. The water from the aqueducts was used for drinking, cooking, fountains, such as the Meta Sudans, and public baths. The Baths of Trajan was a block of bathing buildings in a garden area, limited by a wall. The public baths were examples of the emperor's benevolence. The Temple of Venus and Rome was interesting because it was two temples built back to back. One part was dedicated to worship for Venus, facing the Colosseum, which represented fun and leisure. The other part was dedicated to worship for Rome, facing the Forum, which represented work and business.