ROMA
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What is Rome?

Modern Rome, a city of over 2.5 million people, got its start about 2800 years ago. Ruled by kings until 509 BC, Rome the City became the center of Rome the Republic, which expanded into three continents. By 100 BC the republic was fraught with civil wars, and collapsed after Caesar's assassination in 44 BC, giving rise to the principate of Augustus, ultimately transforming into the Roman Empire. Rome the City was capital of Rome the Empire until Constantine moved the capital to Constantinople/Istanbul in 330 CE, although Rome the City remained Rome the Christian center. Rome the Empire succumbed to numerous problems through the 5th century, with its official demise usually given a date of 476, when the Germans deposed Romulus Augustulus. Rome the City lived for almost a thousand years of the Byzantine period, although as a tiny shadow of its republican/imperial greatness from the perspectives of population, culture, government, education, and art. Then the Renaissance happened, the likes of Perugino, Ghirlandaio, Botticelli, Cosimo Rosselli and Michelangelo hit the scene, and Rome the City was reborn, now the capital of Italy and the most popular tourist destination in the world.

This site is dedicated to Rome the City and Rome the Republic and Empire before 400 CE. It contains thousands of photos, which we are gradually organizing and annotating. A few topics (e.g. Christ the Magician and Arch of Constantine), include lengthy discussions. The section on imperial portraiture, addressing marble, bronze and numismatic portraits of emperors up to 400 CE, changes very often. Use the button to the left to receive notifications of updates.