Space and Place: The Palatine Hill

Our trip to the Palatine began with a walk up a flight of stairs towards a series of brick alcoves built into the side of the hill.  The ruin, though clearly man-made, did not seem to stand out from the natural environment surrounding it.   The flowers and shrubbery sprouting from between its cracks allowed it to blend in to the land, and gave the immediate impression that the Palatine hill is a space in which nature and civilization overlap.  As I continued on the path up the Palatine, I was overcome with the strange sensation that I had been transported from the bustling, effervescent city of Rome and placed in a peaceful, green haven.  The sight of the busy streets was blocked out by trees, and the anxious buzz of tourism seemed to quiet as we ascended the hill.   

I could not help but notice that the use of arches dominates the architecture of the ancient structures that characterize the Palatine. This reoccurrence cannot be accidental—the arches serve to evoke the power and splendor of the Roman Empire itself.  Roman arches were usually erected or passed under to commemorate a victory, so it only seems fitting that the hill that commemorates Romulus’ victory over his brother, Remus, is laden with them.  The hollowed out spaces of the archways also allow for glimpses of other arches to be seen simultaneously, thus evoking further splendor.  The fact that these structures still have the ability to evoke a sense of supremacy and glory to the modern visitor is truly remarkable. 

After walking through the area behind the baths for some time, I began to feel as though I was in a maze, trapped amongst never-ending rows of crumbling brick structures.  The idea of this space being almost maze-like is mimicked the maze of the rose garden shrubs, as well as the overall maze-like set up of the ancient roads that run through the Forum Romanum.  Looking down on the Forum from a lookout area near the rose garden was a magnificent end to our procession.