In my long lost youth I spent a whole summer in Rome. In the evenings I would go to the Mausoleum of Augustus to feed the cats living there (yes, I was a very weird teenager) - the whole place was overgrown and basically forgotten, no other tourists ever ventured there. It was magical, a quiet oasis in a pulsating city. Even though I couldn't enter the Mausoleum itself this was the place where I felt most connected to the people living in ancient Rome. And yes, I took one of the cats home with me, smuggling him across two international borders.
Darius, my wife and I really enjoyed bumping into you today at Largo Argentina. We took your advice and visited Domus Tiberiana. It was fantastic! Just want to say again how much the work you do is appreciated. Thanks
Thanks very much. Nice to see you! Glad you saw that newly opened, fascinating site. If you don’t already subscribe do watch RUclips.com/@ancientromelive. Furthermore if you join the newsletter at AncientRomeLive.org you get links to free lectures and live-streaming. We are offering new one week courses in 2024- under the “courses” tab. Thanks!
Years of walking past the sad remains of the Mausoleum to visit the Ara Pacis, and now it’s being treated with the respect and honour due to the resting place of Rome’s first emperor and a key figure in the history of Europe. Looking forward to visiting when it’s complete and open.
Wonderful, as usual! Darius is hitting all of the hot spots of ancient Rome. It would have been great to have had a time machine to walk the streets of Rome to experience the grandeur!
Thanks for this I'd never realised how gigantic and awesome it must have been. I visited the Trophee des Alpes as its called in French as a child part of my lifelong interest in Rome. Its really an astounding survival.
Thanks for sharing this. Some years ago I took my family to Rome and we visited the Museo dell'Ara Pacis and looked at the mausoleum from outside. This makes me want to return again! Great video!
Another great show . It’s amazing to see how many sites are being made available to the public to view and enjoy since the last time we were there 30 years ago. What a once in a lifetime thrill it must have been for you to be given access to climb to the top of Trajans Column . Jealous can only begin to describe how I felt when I watched that video of yours .Very special indeed . Salute . 😎🥃
Kudos for pronouncing Ara pacis correctly. The mausoleum of Augustus is the last place I have left to visit in the city of Rome from the classical period, it's good to know that the wait will be worth it
We travel to Rome often. 31 times so far. 2 times every year. It is like home. Darius you are the best ! New Jersey here. Will be there last 2 weeks in Nov and again in Feb Forza Roma per sempre !
Cyprus tree were planted in the Mediterranean and across the Roman Empire as due to their height they would indicate dwellings safety and a place to rest and get watered - They could be seen for miles and towered above other trees in an age where there was less buildings and more wilderness - they were pretty much beacons and meeting points where refreshment was available. It is a later day usage for burial grounds as they provide a screen and cooling shade. Check out trees and their historical use :)
I didn't know that, cool, I know native American tricks of hunting and survival, and communication through markers like bending branches, and using rocks, and certain tribes always had different codes, it wasn't like trail markers with safe passage and water marks
These code markers would have been passed down from generation to generation from the days of the first tribes - remarkable and most intriguing the signs would show friend or foe or resource and travel direction. Wonderful really@@shable1436
Marcellvsce, what a beautiful name! The artwork that adorns the little temple near the mausoleum is truly majestic. Roman society truly dedicated and embraced arts to it’s finest. It is a tragic that our contemporary society does not embrace arts as the Romans did it.
A truly great video ! It has been many years since I was in Rome 44 years to be exact . So much has changed there with new archeological discoveries and restorations . This video contains the most information on the mausoleum of Augustus that I have seen wether in other videos or books . Thank you for sharing this with us .
Thank you Darius for a wonderful upload. I recall wandering around the vicinity around a decade ago and lamenting at the sheer degradation of such an important Roman monument.
Hey Darius, thanks for walking us around this amazing Mausoleum of Augustus. I was there this June and didn't think to check beforehand if it was open or not, so you've satisfied my curiosity - many thanks!
Great new direction for your videos! I read in Gibbon’s Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, that during the Sack of Rome 410 CE Alaric and his Gothic soldiers invaded this mausoleum and emptied out all the ashes from the urns. Sic transit Gloria Mundi.
Amazing! Especially at 5:08 - I've been to the Pantheon, but I never imagined the area was such an open and hallowed space between structures in the ancient past. It's such a stark contrast to the crowded city now. Previously a fortification, gardens, a bullring, and entertainment spaces...it's interesting how those transient things have all come and gone, and we still remember the original intended magnificence of the structure. What was "I, Claudius"? A book, or a history, written by him?
I, Claudius is historical fiction of a sort. It was a novel written by Robert Graves, an English classicist. Graves based much of his story on the writings of the Roman historian Seutonius. Seutonius wrote The Twelve Caesars, which is just as much Roman rumor and gossip about the first emperors as fact. It's well known because the BBC did a wonderful production of Graves' novel in the early 70s.
@@lkbarrett39 Thank you! I know I've heard the phrase when I was a kid, and in passing. This is the first time I heard it as an adult, so I was curious. I'm gonna try to check it out, and watch it somehow.
There is modern TV series called “Domina” that focuses on the perspective of Livia. It’s a bit “Game of Thrones” in the beginning but it settles down into a great political drama set in the time of Augustus.
Thank you for this video. When I went to Rome in 19, Augustus’ temple was closed to the public. I wanted to go inside so badly but I didn’t get to. So I’m thrilled to get to see the inside through this video. Thank you!!
Looks like it’s going to be about a year before they open it to the public? Sure looks promising. I appreciate how you drew comparisons to the building in France - wow!
We started our guided tour at the Mausoleum - and had to seek shelter from a sudden thunderstorm at that very colonnade at 0:22. Gobsmacked to see it all torn up. Some serious fixing-upping going on. Memories...
My older brother went to Europe twice he had his master's degree in fine arts and he gave me a list of all the hidden gems he found in Rome off the tourist list. He said do the tourist thing, the forum, colosseum, St Peters, Pantheon, Sisteen chapel, Palatine hill cir. Max, but then he said go see Julius Caesars burial place augustus' moeselium Hadrian's villa in Tivoli the baths of demetian walk the via appia antique, go outside the tourist traps and really walk around Rome enjoy the Ora of Rome he said Rome is where it all happened at one time. There's much more on his lists actually. I was a legionary in past life's I'm very drawn to Rome. Ever since I was little Rome has been calling to me. It's like it wants me there because I will discover that it has something to show me and tell me. There's a REASON I FEEL SO DRAWN TO THE ETERNAL CITY. AND IM GOING. IM GOING
Now we know what the function of temples were. They were mausoleums. Interesting. So the Romans preferred to be cremated. I shall look forward to visiting this site. Thank you.
The Soma of the Ptolemies in Alexandria was imitating an rock-cut pharaonic tomb in the Valley of the Kings, as the Ptolemies were pharaos of Egypt. The Mausoleum of Augustus is Etruscan in style, as Augustus styled himself as the champion of classical Roman traditions.
The spiral staircase in the middle is interesting. Both Hadrian's Mausoleum and the so-called Royal Mausoleum of Mauretania (which I think is generally dated to Augustus' time) have internal ascending spiral ramps with very large radii. Would've made sense to assume that that design came from the Mausoleum of Augustus but if that had a spiral staircase in the middle, I think it's unlikely that it would've also had a spiral ramp. Makes me think Hadrian and whoever built the Royal Mausoleum of Mauretania got the idea of an internal spiral ramp from elsewhere. Maybe Alexander's tomb.
The fact that Augustus (Romes Emperors) resting place was in the Field of Mars is very meaningful. The fact that the Romans consider themselves "Sons of Mars" and that their emperor is the first among equals, points at him being the first Son of Mars (Romulus). That it's entry faces directly towards the entry of the Pantheon, and that this road is very meaningful too. In a way in his rebirth he enters into the realms of heaven, his mausoleum being the exit door out of this world, and the pantheon being the entry into heaven, the realm of the gods, and that this road between both buildings in a way symbolized a bridge between the two worlds, the world below and heaven, which also points at his role as Pontifex Maximus
As an Italian I'm glad that they finally got serious to restore the mausoleum that for years that it was transformed into a veritable cesspit but Rome was typically always out of money due to bad administration. Many of us were truly ashamed of this situation. Although brutally gutted during the centuries it is really impressive to see thanks to your video, next time i will visit this mausoleum. Thanks for sharing this doing a great job as always 👏 👍
Another fantastic work on a brand new site (newly fixed and opened). THANK YOU Darius. fantastic filming and educating. I have a question: it is logically destructive to plant trees on a builiding like this, since their roots and the water-logged soil around them would surely destroy the building. And yet, all the traditional rendering put trees on the building--even on the tomb of Hadrian!! This cannot be. What do you believe in view of these structural facts?
@@DariusArya Thank you for answering, Dr. Arya. Are you convinced trees were planted on the building (with all their deleterious effects) a restorartion of hisrtory, or misunderstanding of Strabos' report? I have done some reading of the old texts, but not convinced of trees being planted on the building themselves. Around them on garden terraces yes, but not actually on them. It is destructive and reckless to do that
@@TWOCOWS1 Strabo (5.3. 8) is the source that describes the trees on the mausoleum…. The decision to add them in the Fascist era aimed for “authenticity”- and recent studies have confirmed they are in the right location…. But certainly they cannot be good for the monument… at any rate as I noted before - they are in a stable condition these days …
@@DariusArya Much obliged. Thank you. Good old Strabo never visited city and writes on hearsay, including saying he did. Thank you for confirming the only source for that being him.
According to Wikipedia, work on the mausoleum commenced soon after the younger, adopted Caesar (the future Augustus) consolidated power in 31 B.C., and was essentially complete before the close of 28 B.C., some three years later. Augustus (the designation conferred on him in 27 B.C.) didn't die until 14 A.D.
The fact that Augustus (Romes Emperors) resting place was in the Field of Mars is very meaningful. Because the Romans consider themselves "Sons of Mars" and that their Emperor is the first among equals (First of Sons) , in a way alludes at him(Augustus) being the first Son of Mars as a new Romulus and founder of Rome. Also that the Masoleums entry faces directly towards the entry of the Pantheon is very significant, even the road that binds them both, is very meaningful. In a way in his rebirth he enters into the realms of heaven, leaving his mausoleum being the exit door out of this world, and the pantheon being the entry into heaven, the realm of the gods, and that this road between both buildings, that bind them in a way symbolized a bridge between the two worlds, the world below and heaven, which also points at his role as Pontifex Maximus
I'm about halfway through the series "Domina" - it's about the life of Livia Drusilla, the wife of Augustus. It's on the MGM+ channel. It's cool to think she may have walked these corridors. I think she lived about 15 years after he died.
You’d think that RUclips and sponsors would realize that, when commercials occur abruptly - often loudly - they just piss people off and potential customers become determined to NOT buy a given product.
In the early years of Rome, was the Campus Martius used for Agricultural purposes? Considering the field was dedicated to Mars (A god of war and agriculture) did they grow any crops in Spring Time (A season for the beginning of Military Campaigns and Agriculture). If crops were grown, what type of crops would they/it have been and when and where would they be offered to Mars
Historians and archaeologists have been producing some fascinating presentations about the good old days, and each author shares their own little tidbits that their contemporaries sorta miss. Darius Arya did not fail to hold my interest about the mouse oleum of Augustus. I would love to go to Rome and meet these people and secure personally guided tours of the places they talked about in their videos if my broken behind would permit. Too much arthritis in my buns. How much of these historical sites are accessable to physically handicapped unfortunates like me?
Do we have an estimated time when the monument will be open to the public? We will return to Rome in June 2025..really hoping we can get some access by then!
@@DariusArya on a related note, does the American Institute for Roman Culture do guided tours of the Forum and Palatine hill? Or can you recommend a good guide to us? Our last “guide” assured us that Julius Caesar never had a house on the forum (even when he was Pontifex Maximus and a house came with the gig as far as I’m aware), and she insisted he was murdered in the Curia Julia. She must be a fan of Shakespeare!
@@chriss9198 You are correct that your guide was misinformed. The official residence of the Pontifex Maximus was the Domus Publica, which was indeed in the Roman Forum, so Caesar during his tenure would have resided there. And Caesar was assassinated in a hall of the complex of the Theatre of Pompey.
I had a question commented before, my question which is now missing, is whether the early Romans grew crops on the field of Mars, to offer as a sacrifice to mars, considering Spring, Agriculture and War are associated with Mars
Did you say that the urns containing ashes of Augustus's relatives still hold the actual ashes? Or is it just the broken urns that are still there? History tells us the ashes were scattered to the winds.
I've been to Rome on five different occasions, but never to the Mausoleum of Augustus. I'm just never in that neighborhood. Next time, perhaps. I know the remains(ashes) are long gone from this location, but that does get me wondering if there are any surviving imperial remains elsewhere.
If you do go there, the Ara Pacis museum is next to it. It's an incredibly beautiful and preserved sacrificial Altar that was commissioned by the Senate to celebrate the return of Augustus after several years in Spain.
Rome is rich in Augustan monuments - Forum of Augustus, lots of monuments in the Campus Martius - including next door Ara PACIS), and many monuments in forum and Palatine - lots to see!
In Mosullini's time, this tomb was a dance hall. Believe me or not. The mausoleum of Augustus should be recreated with the original trees that surrounded the mausoleum at the time. It would give the tourists the best impression of the ancient monument. Without changing or touching it.
I wonder , for how long the remains of Emperor Augustus were kept intact before they were plundered? and in what century could this happen? Could the bones of the emperor and his family have been preserved?
So much of ancient rome seem only to be able to be apreciated due to Mussolini's cleaning up of parasite constructions no matter its age. Something to be grateful of that madman. Without him I very much doubt the forum area or even here the Augustean mausoleum would have been freed of even reaissance buildings nowadays
Thanks to Mussolini in the 30s and all the other public officials in Rome during succeeding decades, who strived and are striving to bring this impressive Ancient Roman monument back to life. What boggles my mind is the enormous amount of time and effort it took over the centuries for people to literally tear beautiful Ancient Roman monuments like this apart. So sad.
Information on the two obelisks originally located at the entrance of the Mausoleo di Augusto : #1 Obelisco Esquilino : Location : Piazza dell'Esquelino (Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore) #2 Obelisco del Quirinale. Location : Piazza del Quirinale (Fontana dei Dioscuri) Thanks for the video, when it comes to pronouncing Italian words... Step 1 : Relax Step 2 : Don't make up words that don't exist Step 3 : Simply pronounce every syllable pia - za - del - qui - ri - na - le
In my long lost youth I spent a whole summer in Rome. In the evenings I would go to the Mausoleum of Augustus to feed the cats living there (yes, I was a very weird teenager) - the whole place was overgrown and basically forgotten, no other tourists ever ventured there. It was magical, a quiet oasis in a pulsating city. Even though I couldn't enter the Mausoleum itself this was the place where I felt most connected to the people living in ancient Rome. And yes, I took one of the cats home with me, smuggling him across two international borders.
That right there sounds like a movie synopsis with a happy ending! :)
Can’t wait until the piazza areas open up. We surely be a place to hang out and absorb the ancient city vibes!
So are there ashes still there in the urns?
You are a wonderful person.
Fantastic story
Congratulations to the Italians for a great public works project to bring this back into the light.
I can’t wait to visit Rome again!
Darius, my wife and I really enjoyed bumping into you today at Largo Argentina. We took your advice and visited Domus Tiberiana. It was fantastic! Just want to say again how much the work you do is appreciated. Thanks
Thanks very much. Nice to see you! Glad you saw that newly opened, fascinating site. If you don’t already subscribe do watch RUclips.com/@ancientromelive. Furthermore if you join the newsletter at AncientRomeLive.org you get links to free lectures and live-streaming. We are offering new one week courses in 2024- under the “courses” tab. Thanks!
Years of walking past the sad remains of the Mausoleum to visit the Ara Pacis, and now it’s being treated with the respect and honour due to the resting place of Rome’s first emperor and a key figure in the history of Europe. Looking forward to visiting when it’s complete and open.
Lots to do… lots of progress made! I’m happy to celebrate the progress! A little more patience, though!
Wonderful, as usual! Darius is hitting all of the hot spots of ancient Rome. It would have been great to have had a time machine to walk the streets of Rome to experience the grandeur!
Yeah, I've always wished that! To be a proverbial fly on the wall in ancient history, would be amazing.
Stick with me - we travel through time!!
Thanks for this I'd never realised how gigantic and awesome it must have been. I visited the Trophee des Alpes as its called in French as a child part of my lifelong interest in Rome. Its really an astounding survival.
I need to visit it!
Thanks for sharing this. Some years ago I took my family to Rome and we visited the Museo dell'Ara Pacis and looked at the mausoleum from outside. This makes me want to return again! Great video!
I seriously love your videos. It teaches me and shows me a lot that I would otherwise never be able to see. Thank you so much sir!
You are so welcome!
Hi, Darius. It was great to meet you last week! Thank you for creating this content!
My pleasure! It was great to meet you, too. Please check out @ancientromelive related content!
Beatiful explanation Darius,a dream come true,admiring the view from the top of the Augustus Mausoleum.Thanks.
Glad you liked it!
Another great show . It’s amazing to see how many sites are being made available to the public to view and enjoy since the last time we were there 30 years ago. What a once in a lifetime thrill it must have been for you to be given access to climb to the top of Trajans Column . Jealous can only begin to describe how I felt when I watched that video of yours .Very special indeed . Salute . 😎🥃
Glad you enjoyed it
Yes, tho I’m not a fan of the modern brickwork. At least rebuild it in the original shape! The Greeks seem to be better at Anastasis
Kudos for pronouncing Ara pacis correctly. The mausoleum of Augustus is the last place I have left to visit in the city of Rome from the classical period, it's good to know that the wait will be worth it
Incredible. I was there years ago but the place was closed to the public. Now it'll be a great place to visit.
Closed again due to more work… a little more patience
Gracias, Darius for showing us such a precious historical place. Kudo to you! Take care!
Glad you enjoyed it
We travel to Rome often. 31 times so far. 2 times every year. It is like home. Darius you are the best ! New Jersey here. Will be there last 2 weeks in Nov and again in Feb Forza Roma per sempre !
Give me a holler when you arrive!
Cyprus tree were planted in the Mediterranean and across the Roman Empire as due to their height they would indicate dwellings safety and a place to rest and get watered - They could be seen for miles and towered above other trees in an age where there was less buildings and more wilderness - they were pretty much beacons and meeting points where refreshment was available. It is a later day usage for burial grounds as they provide a screen and cooling shade. Check out trees and their historical use :)
I didn't know that, cool, I know native American tricks of hunting and survival, and communication through markers like bending branches, and using rocks, and certain tribes always had different codes, it wasn't like trail markers with safe passage and water marks
These code markers would have been passed down from generation to generation from the days of the first tribes - remarkable and most intriguing the signs would show friend or foe or resource and travel direction. Wonderful really@@shable1436
It's good to see the restoration of these great structures, and how wonderful they look cleaned up and accessible.
Love to see a full digital recreation of the space.
Thank you, so amazing to have exclusive access like this!
Happy to share!
Great presentation
Keep up the great work
Thank you! Will do!
Thank you for your videos! The more I see from your channel the more I want to visit Rome 🤘
Thanks!!
Marcellvsce, what a beautiful name! The artwork that adorns the little temple near the mausoleum is truly majestic. Roman society truly dedicated and embraced arts to it’s finest. It is a tragic that our contemporary society does not embrace arts as the Romans did it.
I just love your work. So exiting and full of info. You're a master.
Wow, thank you!
You’ve made me decide that I MUST return to Rome ASAP! Roma, here I come! Your videos never disappoint.
Grazie
A truly great video ! It has been many years since I was in Rome 44 years to be exact . So much has changed there with new archeological discoveries and restorations . This video contains the most information on the mausoleum of Augustus that I have seen wether in other videos or books . Thank you for sharing this with us .
Looks amazing -I'm coming back to wonderful ROMA!!
Thank you Darius for a wonderful upload. I recall wandering around the vicinity around a decade ago and lamenting at the sheer degradation of such an important Roman monument.
Glad you enjoyed it
Amazing! Thanks so much Darius, you are so thorough and detailed. Enjoy your tours of anything historical!👏👏👏👍👊🤩
Hey Darius, thanks for walking us around this amazing Mausoleum of Augustus. I was there this June and didn't think to check beforehand if it was open or not, so you've satisfied my curiosity - many thanks!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Hello Darius , Bruce here I have been following you periscope days . Always enjoy learning from you. Take care
Hey! Glad to hear from you. Love of live RUclips videos coming up here and on @ancientromelive
Great new direction for your videos! I read in Gibbon’s Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, that during the Sack of Rome 410 CE Alaric and his Gothic soldiers invaded this mausoleum and emptied out all the ashes from the urns. Sic transit Gloria Mundi.
Thank you! Yes more exploration and travel on the way!
Amazing! Especially at 5:08 - I've been to the Pantheon, but I never imagined the area was such an open and hallowed space between structures in the ancient past. It's such a stark contrast to the crowded city now.
Previously a fortification, gardens, a bullring, and entertainment spaces...it's interesting how those transient things have all come and gone, and we still remember the original intended magnificence of the structure.
What was "I, Claudius"? A book, or a history, written by him?
I, Claudius is historical fiction of a sort. It was a novel written by Robert Graves, an English classicist. Graves based much of his story on the writings of the Roman historian Seutonius. Seutonius wrote The Twelve Caesars, which is just as much Roman rumor and gossip about the first emperors as fact. It's well known because the BBC did a wonderful production of Graves' novel in the early 70s.
@@lkbarrett39 Thank you! I know I've heard the phrase when I was a kid, and in passing. This is the first time I heard it as an adult, so I was curious.
I'm gonna try to check it out, and watch it somehow.
There is modern TV series called “Domina” that focuses on the perspective of Livia. It’s a bit “Game of Thrones” in the beginning but it settles down into a great political drama set in the time of Augustus.
@@chriss9198Thanks! Hopefully it has a better ending than Game of Thrones? haha
I'll check it out! :)
Invented - but what a great story / based on ancient authors …
That was good 😊 boy it is coming along! Looking sweet! The ara pacis is truly impressive!!! Bella Bella ❤
Lots of progress to celebrate
Always enjoy the content, you deserve way more subscriptions.
I appreciate that! Please share - and I’ll keep making content.
Thank you for this video. When I went to Rome in 19, Augustus’ temple was closed to the public. I wanted to go inside so badly but I didn’t get to. So I’m thrilled to get to see the inside through this video. Thank you!!
My pleasure - happy to share this important site!!
Wonderful visit...!!!
Many thanks!
Thanks for this great report. Looking forward to the completion of this project.
Eye-popping! I had no idea! 😮❤
Excellent job as always and thank you!!
Thank you too!
Looks like it’s going to be about a year before they open it to the public? Sure looks promising. I appreciate how you drew comparisons to the building in France - wow!
Thanks - yes a little more patience - a year or 2!
We started our guided tour at the Mausoleum - and had to seek shelter from a sudden thunderstorm at that very colonnade at 0:22. Gobsmacked to see it all torn up. Some serious fixing-upping going on. Memories...
You need to come back when it opens!
Great video, thank you for showing us these.
Totally Fascinating !
Love my short time in Rome. Hope to revisit THANKS
So like a Pantheon dome on the top? That Tropaeum Alpium is amazing!
Can’t wait to visit!!!
I just watched a documentary and you were in it. It was a history channel documentary. You were talking about the harbor the ancient Romans made.
Any chance I have - I love doing documentaries!
Tremendous video. I can't wait to get to Rome. I may not leave. I'm coming to Rome I'm want to see it all. And to do that I'll live there
My older brother went to Europe twice he had his master's degree in fine arts and he gave me a list of all the hidden gems he found in Rome off the tourist list. He said do the tourist thing, the forum, colosseum, St Peters, Pantheon, Sisteen chapel, Palatine hill cir. Max, but then he said go see Julius Caesars burial place augustus' moeselium Hadrian's villa in Tivoli the baths of demetian walk the via appia antique, go outside the tourist traps and really walk around Rome enjoy the Ora of Rome he said Rome is where it all happened at one time. There's much more on his lists actually. I was a legionary in past life's I'm very drawn to Rome. Ever since I was little Rome has been calling to me. It's like it wants me there because I will discover that it has something to show me and tell me. There's a REASON I FEEL SO DRAWN TO THE ETERNAL CITY. AND IM GOING. IM GOING
Wonderful video! Thank you for the tour and history. Always interesting.
Glad you enjoyed it
When I visited Rome in 2015 the mausoleum looked nothing like this. Amazing.
A lot of progress
We were there just last week, lots of works going on, hope to see it open in future visits.
I hope so too!
thank you!
You're welcome!
Bellissimo!
Wow, absolutely love this and will visit it in the future, all roads lead to Rome!
Thanks and I agree!!
Well done!
Glad you showed me this. I 've never seen it inside.
Thank you!
I love your videos man plz keep them coming, SPQR!
Thank you!
Well done.
Thanks!
Just wow!
Now we know what the function of temples were. They were mausoleums. Interesting. So the Romans preferred to be cremated. I shall look forward to visiting this site. Thank you.
Great presentation! Must see! Marcellus, nephew of Augustus was the first to be buried in the mausoleum, correct?
The Soma of the Ptolemies in Alexandria was imitating an rock-cut pharaonic tomb in the Valley of the Kings, as the Ptolemies were pharaos of Egypt. The Mausoleum of Augustus is Etruscan in style, as Augustus styled himself as the champion of classical Roman traditions.
The spiral staircase in the middle is interesting. Both Hadrian's Mausoleum and the so-called Royal Mausoleum of Mauretania (which I think is generally dated to Augustus' time) have internal ascending spiral ramps with very large radii. Would've made sense to assume that that design came from the Mausoleum of Augustus but if that had a spiral staircase in the middle, I think it's unlikely that it would've also had a spiral ramp. Makes me think Hadrian and whoever built the Royal Mausoleum of Mauretania got the idea of an internal spiral ramp from elsewhere. Maybe Alexander's tomb.
All great ideas! @ancientromelive will dedicate more time to those mausolea
Amazing
The fact that Augustus (Romes Emperors) resting place was in the Field of Mars is very meaningful. The fact that the Romans consider themselves "Sons of Mars" and that their emperor is the first among equals, points at him being the first Son of Mars (Romulus). That it's entry faces directly towards the entry of the Pantheon, and that this road is very meaningful too. In a way in his rebirth he enters into the realms of heaven, his mausoleum being the exit door out of this world, and the pantheon being the entry into heaven, the realm of the gods, and that this road between both buildings in a way symbolized a bridge between the two worlds, the world below and heaven, which also points at his role as Pontifex Maximus
Grazie mille Prof. Darius .Fantastico! Much needed restoration. Was Nero the last Julio- Claudian Emperor ashes interred here?🤔
No, he was buried elsewhere by his freedmen. Last emperor inside: Nerva
When will it be opened to the public? I want to plan my next visit to Rome around that. Thanks for uploading this wonderful content! ❤
As soon as possible- 2024? 2025???
As an Italian I'm glad that they finally got serious to restore the mausoleum that for years that it was transformed into a veritable cesspit but Rome was typically always out of money due to bad administration. Many of us were truly ashamed of this situation. Although brutally gutted during the centuries it is really impressive to see thanks to your video, next time i will visit this mausoleum. Thanks for sharing this doing a great job as always 👏 👍
Thanks - yea lots of progress
Another fantastic work on a brand new site (newly fixed and opened). THANK YOU Darius. fantastic filming and educating.
I have a question: it is logically destructive to plant trees on a builiding like this, since their roots and the water-logged soil around them would surely destroy the building. And yet, all the traditional rendering put trees on the building--even on the tomb of Hadrian!! This cannot be. What do you believe in view of these structural facts?
Thanks! In the ongoing conservation plan they have assessed and stabilized the trees. They will not be removed, as far as I’ve been told.
@@DariusArya Thank you for answering, Dr. Arya. Are you convinced trees were planted on the building (with all their deleterious effects) a restorartion of hisrtory, or misunderstanding of Strabos' report? I have done some reading of the old texts, but not convinced of trees being planted on the building themselves. Around them on garden terraces yes, but not actually on them. It is destructive and reckless to do that
@@TWOCOWS1 Strabo (5.3. 8) is the source that describes the trees on the mausoleum…. The decision to add them in the Fascist era aimed for “authenticity”- and recent studies have confirmed they are in the right location…. But certainly they cannot be good for the monument… at any rate as I noted before - they are in a stable condition these days …
@@DariusArya Much obliged. Thank you. Good old Strabo never visited city and writes on hearsay, including saying he did. Thank you for confirming the only source for that being him.
Very informative. Could you please also provide the dates the place was built?
According to Wikipedia, work on the mausoleum commenced soon after the younger, adopted Caesar (the future Augustus) consolidated power in 31 B.C., and was essentially complete before the close of 28 B.C., some three years later. Augustus (the designation conferred on him in 27 B.C.) didn't die until 14 A.D.
The fact that Augustus (Romes Emperors) resting place was in the Field of Mars is very meaningful. Because the Romans consider themselves "Sons of Mars" and that their Emperor is the first among equals (First of Sons) , in a way alludes at him(Augustus) being the first Son of Mars as a new Romulus and founder of Rome.
Also that the Masoleums entry faces directly towards the entry of the Pantheon is very significant, even the road that binds them both, is very meaningful.
In a way in his rebirth he enters into the realms of heaven, leaving his mausoleum being the exit door out of this world, and the pantheon being the entry into heaven, the realm of the gods, and that this road between both buildings, that bind them in a way symbolized a bridge between the two worlds, the world below and heaven, which also points at his role as Pontifex Maximus
I'm about halfway through the series "Domina" - it's about the life of Livia Drusilla, the wife of Augustus. It's on the MGM+ channel.
It's cool to think she may have walked these corridors. I think she lived about 15 years after he died.
Yes what a titan in Roman history - quite the protagonist- and once buried inside - then deified
crazy that for a historical structure this large and scale was left out
Nice 👍
You’d think that RUclips and sponsors would realize that, when commercials occur abruptly - often loudly - they just piss people off and potential customers become determined to NOT buy a given product.
You've surely already seen the amazing complete 1900 year old Roman swords recently found in Israel: incredible archeological discovery!
Yes - wow!!
In the early years of Rome, was the Campus Martius used for Agricultural purposes? Considering the field was dedicated to Mars (A god of war and agriculture) did they grow any crops in Spring Time (A season for the beginning of Military Campaigns and Agriculture). If crops were grown, what type of crops would they/it have been and when and where would they be offered to Mars
thanks
If only we could see these buildings in their prime.
Historians and archaeologists have been producing some fascinating presentations about the good old days, and each author shares their own little tidbits that their contemporaries sorta miss. Darius Arya did not fail to hold my interest about the mouse oleum of Augustus. I would love to go to Rome and meet these people and secure personally guided tours of the places they talked about in their videos if my broken behind would permit. Too much arthritis in my buns. How much of these historical sites are accessable to physically handicapped unfortunates like me?
Sites have become much more handicapped accessible with ramps and elevators.
Amazing place. Wonderful video. If only it were in silky smooth 60fps.
At 30fps panning creates almost instant nausea.
Do we have an estimated time when the monument will be open to the public? We will return to Rome in June 2025..really hoping we can get some access by then!
2024 at earliest
@@DariusArya on a related note, does the American Institute for Roman Culture do guided tours of the Forum and Palatine hill? Or can you recommend a good guide to us? Our last “guide” assured us that Julius Caesar never had a house on the forum (even when he was Pontifex Maximus and a house came with the gig as far as I’m aware), and she insisted he was murdered in the Curia Julia. She must be a fan of Shakespeare!
@@chriss9198 yikes - yes you are need of a good, properly informed visit. Write to UnlockedRome.com and I’ll hook you up!!
@@DariusArya many thanks! Will do!
@@chriss9198 You are correct that your guide was misinformed. The official residence of the Pontifex Maximus was the Domus Publica, which was indeed in the Roman Forum, so Caesar during his tenure would have resided there. And Caesar was assassinated in a hall of the complex of the Theatre of Pompey.
Imagine watching a play and not knowing you were at the burial place of one of the single most influential people in all of history
Hello Darius. Do you have any idea when this will be open to the public? I'll be in Rome in a few weeks and crossing my fingers.
Sorry - huge work I’m progress now… 2024 at earliest - but do come and check out the work!
I was there and I couldn't believe that it was bigger than Castel Sant'Angelo
I had a question commented before, my question which is now missing, is whether the early Romans grew crops on the field of Mars, to offer as a sacrifice to mars, considering Spring, Agriculture and War are associated with Mars
Did you say that the urns containing ashes of Augustus's relatives still hold the actual ashes? Or is it just the broken urns that are still there? History tells us the ashes were scattered to the winds.
Ashes lost!! Just the receptacles for the lost urns and some inscriptions that we looked at
I've been to Rome on five different occasions, but never to the Mausoleum of Augustus. I'm just never in that neighborhood. Next time, perhaps. I know the remains(ashes) are long gone from this location, but that does get me wondering if there are any surviving imperial remains elsewhere.
If you do go there, the Ara Pacis museum is next to it. It's an incredibly beautiful and preserved sacrificial Altar that was commissioned by the Senate to celebrate the return of Augustus after several years in Spain.
Rome is rich in Augustan monuments - Forum of Augustus, lots of monuments in the Campus Martius - including next door Ara PACIS), and many monuments in forum and Palatine - lots to see!
In Mosullini's time, this tomb was a dance hall. Believe me or not. The mausoleum of Augustus should be recreated with the original trees that surrounded the mausoleum at the time. It would give the tourists the best impression of the ancient monument. Without changing or touching it.
Mussolini planted the trees on the mausoleum that we view today
I wonder , for how long the remains of Emperor Augustus were kept intact before they were plundered? and in what century could this happen? Could the bones of the emperor and his family have been preserved?
They were all cremated …
So much of ancient rome seem only to be able to be apreciated due to Mussolini's cleaning up of parasite constructions no matter its age. Something to be grateful of that madman. Without him I very much doubt the forum area or even here the Augustean mausoleum would have been freed of even reaissance buildings nowadays
He left a huge legacy - for better and worse - lot of history revealed and a lot lost
Hm, how come they did not use the huge stones, like at the colosseum?
Thanks to Mussolini in the 30s and all the other public officials in Rome during succeeding decades, who strived and are striving to bring this impressive Ancient Roman monument back to life. What boggles my mind is the enormous amount of time and effort it took over the centuries for people to literally tear beautiful Ancient Roman monuments like this apart. So sad.
It would be wonderful if it could be restored just like it was when Augustus’ urn was placed inside. But one can only imagine the cost…
Lots of restoration carried out it make it accessible for the visit (stairs, glass roofing in one section), etc
I think about the Roman empire at least once a day.
When the Mausoleum of Augustus was used for concerts, could one say the Italians were dancing on his grave? 🤔
Hmmmm
Well done Darius, nice video design and edition, but don't tell to suscribe that's not going to make people do it. It's all about your content.
HAIL CAESAR!!!!!!!
Information on the two obelisks originally located at the entrance of the Mausoleo di Augusto :
#1 Obelisco Esquilino : Location : Piazza dell'Esquelino (Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore)
#2 Obelisco del Quirinale. Location : Piazza del Quirinale (Fontana dei Dioscuri)
Thanks for the video, when it comes to pronouncing Italian words...
Step 1 : Relax
Step 2 : Don't make up words that don't exist
Step 3 : Simply pronounce every syllable
pia - za - del - qui - ri - na - le
If I were a Trillionaire, I would pay the expenses to have the entire monument reconstructed!
Nice idea / but still a lot missing - so any real reconstruction would be questionable… i share your enthusiasm- be sure to visit in the future!!