We can all recognise the great architectural landmarks of Ancient Rome: the Pantheon, the Colosseum, Trajan’s Column – but do you know how they originally appeared or, perhaps more interestingly, how they sat within the context of the historic city? In this captivating 14-minute-long virtual fly-through by the Kahn Academy and Smarthistory, a YouTube channel dedicated to historical video essays, the ancient splendor of the Eternal City (at around 320AD) is presented alongside expert commentary.
Our guide is Dr. Bernard Frischer, a leading virtual archaeologist and academic in charge of the Rome Reborn Project, who makes it clear that the crumbling ruins we see today offer only a slight glimpse into the magnificent complexity of Ancient Rome.
Map of the Roman Forum, taken from Ball Platner's "The Topography and Monuments of Ancient Rome" (1904). Image via Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain)
AD Classics: Roman Pantheon / Emperor Hadrian
Locked within Rome’s labyrinthine maze of narrow streets stands one of the most renowned buildings in the history of architecture. Built at the height of the Roman Empire ‘s power and wealth, the Roman Pantheon has been both lauded and studied for both the immensity of its dome and its celestial geometry for over two millennia.