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C O U R S E L E C T U R E Introduction to Ancient Rome Notes taken on June 11, 2017 by Edward Tanguay |
the largest city in the Roman Empire
one of the largest settlements in the Iron Age
subdivided into 27 smaller regions
larger than the 9th century BC
main roads flowing into the urban area
numbered in counter clockwise order
included area on the left bank of the Tiber
Barbarians were invading
created a new wall cutting off much of the left side of the city west of the Tiber
in ancient times, being a city meant being blessed by the gods
you could have only one section blessed or inaugurated by the gods
the sacred area of the city was the Palantine Hill
the line that enclosed sacred area was called the pomerium
the pomerium was enlarged many times
today, we know where at least some ancient pomeriums were by the cippi that are still present
cippi, n. small, low pillars, square or round, commonly having an inscription, used by the ancients to indicate the distances of places or landmarks