Aventine Hill

Aventine Hill. One of the seven hills of Ancient Rome, the Aventine is a prominent geographical and historical feature located south of the Palatine Hill and west of the Caelian Hill, separated from them by the Circus Maximus. Traditionally associated with the plebeians and later with temple construction, it was incorporated into the city's sacred boundary, the Pomerium, during the reign of Claudius. Today, it is a prestigious residential quarter known for its parks, embassies, and panoramic views over the Tiber river and the city of Rome.

Geography and Topography

The hill comprises two distinct spurs, the Greater Aventine and the Lesser Aventine, with the former being the more significant summit. It is bounded to the north by the Circus Maximus, to the west by the Tiber river, and to the south and east by the ancient Servian Wall. The Porta Trigemina and the Porta Lavernalis were important gates in this wall, providing access from the Aventine to the river port and the Via Ostiensis. The Clivus Publicius was the main road ascending the hill, while the Mons Testaccio, an artificial hill composed of ancient amphora fragments, lies at its southwestern base near the Emporium district.

History

According to tradition, the hill was named for Aventinus, a king of Alba Longa, or for the birds (*aves*) associated with its founding myth. It was outside the original Pomerium and was incorporated into the city during the reign of Ancus Marcius. The hill became a focal point of the Conflict of the Orders, when, according to Livy, the plebeians staged the first Secessio plebis there in 494 BC. Later, it was fully enclosed within the city's defenses by the Servian Wall following the Gallic sack of Rome. Under the Roman Empire, it transformed into a fashionable residential district, with luxurious *domus* owned by figures like Lucius Licinius Sura, a friend of Trajan.

Ancient Monuments and Buildings

The Aventine was renowned for its numerous temples, most famously the Temple of Diana Aventina, founded by King Servius Tullius as a federal sanctuary for the Latin League. Other significant religious structures included the Temple of Minerva, the Temple of Juno Regina, vowed by Marcus Furius Camillus after the siege of Veii, and the Temple of Ceres, Liber and Libera, a center for plebeian cults and the repository for plebiscites. The Baths of Decius, built by the emperor Decius, and the early Christian Santa Sabina, built atop a temple of Juno, are notable later constructions. Archaeological remains also include the Case Romane del Celio and the Pyramid of Cestius nearby.

Modern Significance

In the modern era, the Aventine is an affluent, leafy residential area within the Rione XII Ripa. It houses several foreign embassies, including those of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta and Italy's own Knights of Columbus. The hill is famous for the Keyhole of the Aventine at the Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta, which frames a view of the dome of St. Peter's Basilica. Important cultural sites include the Basilica of Santa Sabina, the Roseto Comunale rose garden, and the Orange Garden offering panoramic views of Rome, including the Janiculum and the Vatican City.

In Roman Religion and Mythology

Mythologically, the hill is linked to the story of Romulus and Remus, where Remus chose the Aventine for his augury. It was also the site where Hercules was said to have slain the monster Cacus, a tale recounted by Virgil in the Aeneid. The Lupercalia festival may have had connections to the hill's caves. Its exclusion from the early Pomerium made it a fitting location for temples to foreign or plebeian-associated deities like Diana, Ceres, and Libertas, emphasizing its role as a counterbalance to the patrician-dominated Capitoline Hill.

Category:Hills of Rome Category:Seven hills of Rome Category:Geography of Rome