The Ager Vaticanus, the alluvial plain outside the city walls on the west bank of the Tiber, was developed at the end of the first century BC,[2] allowing patrician families to construct luxurious private residences (Horti).[3] The Horti Agrippinae villa-estate belonged to Agrippina the Elder and was inherited by her son Caligula (r. 31–41 AD). He was a chariot-racing enthusiast and began construction of the circus which was completed by Claudius (r. 41-54 AD).
The privately owned circus and Horti were then inherited by Nero who made the circus public so he could invite them to cheer him on.[4] He also used both of these to lodge Romans made homeless by the great fire of 64. The circus was used in 65 to carry out mass executions of the Christians accused as scapegoats of the fire itself.[5] Because of this the area beyond the Tiber north of Trastevere was known as "Nero's meadows" until the end of the Middle Ages.[6]
The circus was also the site of St. Peter’s and St. Paul’s martyrdom.
The circus was abandoned by the middle of the second century AD, when the area was partitioned and given in concession to private individuals for the construction of tombs in the necropolis.
Old St. Peter's Basilica was erected by Constantine over the site using some of the existing structure of the Circus of Nero. The basilica was sited so that its apse was centred on Peter's tomb (now beneath the high altar of the current St Peter's Basilica). Most of the ruins of the Circus survived until 1450, when they were finally destroyed by the construction of the new St. Peter's Basilica.
The circus was the site of the first organized, state-sponsored martyrdoms of Christians in 65 AD. Tradition holds that two years later, Saint Peter and many other Christians shared their fate. The circumstances were described in detail by Tacitus in a well-known passage of the Annals (xv.44).
The site for crucifixions in the Circus would have been along the spina ("spine"), as suggested by the 2nd century Acts of Peter describing the spot of his martyrdom as inter duas metas ("between the two metae or turning-posts", which would have been equidistant between the two ends of the circus). The obelisk at the centre of this circus's spina always remained standing, until it was re-erected in Saint Peter's Square in the 16th century by the architect Domenico Fontana. The obelisk was originally brought to Rome by Caligula.
Nearby Roman cemeteryedit
The Via Cornelia ran parallel with the north side of the Circus, and its course can be traced with precision, for pagan tombs have been discovered at various times along its edges. Sante Bartoli's memoirs record that when Alexander VII was building the left wing of Bernini's colonnade and the lefthand fountain, a tomb was discovered with a bas-relief above the door representing a marriage-scene ("vi era un bellissimo bassorilievo di un matrimonio antico"). Others were soon found. The best discovery, that of pagan tombs exactly on the line of St Peter's tomb, was made in the presence of Grimaldi, 9 November 1616:
On that day, I entered a square sepulchral room the ceiling of which was ornamented with designs in painted stucco. There was a medallion in the centre, with a figure in high relief. The door opened on the Via Cornelia, which was on the same level. This tomb is located under the seventh step in front of the middle door of the church. I am told that the sarcophagus now used as a fountain, in the court of the Swiss Guards, was discovered at the time of Gregory XIII in the same place, and that it contained the body of a pagan.
^Coarelli, Filippo (1974). Guida archeologica di Roma (in Italian). Milan: Arnoldo Mondadori Editore. ISBN978-88-04-11896-1 p 311
^Liverani, Paolo (2016). Claudio Parisi Presicce; Laura Petacco (eds.). Un destino di marginalità: storia e topografia dell'area vaticana nell'antichità. La Spina: dall’Agro vaticano a via della Conciliazione (in Italian). Rome. ISBN978-88-492-3320-9 p 21
^Liverani, Paolo (2016). Claudio Parisi Presicce; Laura Petacco (eds.). Un destino di marginalità: storia e topografia dell'area vaticana nell'antichità. La Spina: dall’Agro vaticano a via della Conciliazione (in Italian). Rome. ISBN978-88-492-3320-9 p 23
^Castagnoli, Ferdinando; Cecchelli, Carlo; Giovannoni, Gustavo; Zocca, Mario (1958). Topografia e urbanistica di Roma. Bologna: Cappelli. p. 239
External linksedit
stpetersbasilica.info - Largest online source of information on St. Peter's Basilica and Square in the Vatican City.
Lacus Curtius website: Circus of Nero, plan superposed with the Basilicas, showing the tomb of Peter, and text by Rodolfo Lanciani describing the largely inadvertent archaeology.
Lucentini, M. (31 December 2012). The Rome Guide: Step by Step through History's Greatest City. Interlink. ISBN9781623710088.
Media related to Circus of Nero (Rome) at Wikimedia Commons
circus, nero, called, circus, caligula, circus, ancient, rome, located, mostly, present, vatican, city, drawing, pietro, santi, bartoli, 1699, shown, within, augustan, romeclick, fullscreen, viewcoordinates41, 90167, 45528, 90167, 45528typecircus, from, pirro,. The so called Circus of Nero or Circus of Caligula was a circus in ancient Rome located mostly in the present day Vatican City Circus of NeroDrawing of the Circus of Nero Pietro Santi Bartoli 1699 Circus of NeroShown within Augustan RomeClick on the map for a fullscreen viewCoordinates41 54 6 N 12 27 19 E 41 90167 N 12 45528 E 41 90167 12 45528TypeCircusCircus of Nero from a map of Pirro Ligorio from 1561 with the mausoleum of HadrianPlan 1 It was first built under Caligula Contents 1 History 2 Place of martyrdom 3 Nearby Roman cemetery 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory editSee also Ager Vaticanus The Ager Vaticanus the alluvial plain outside the city walls on the west bank of the Tiber was developed at the end of the first century BC 2 allowing patrician families to construct luxurious private residences Horti 3 The Horti Agrippinae villa estate belonged to Agrippina the Elder and was inherited by her son Caligula r 31 41 AD He was a chariot racing enthusiast and began construction of the circus which was completed by Claudius r 41 54 AD The privately owned circus and Horti were then inherited by Nero who made the circus public so he could invite them to cheer him on 4 He also used both of these to lodge Romans made homeless by the great fire of 64 The circus was used in 65 to carry out mass executions of the Christians accused as scapegoats of the fire itself 5 Because of this the area beyond the Tiber north of Trastevere was known as Nero s meadows until the end of the Middle Ages 6 The circus was also the site of St Peter s and St Paul s martyrdom The circus was abandoned by the middle of the second century AD when the area was partitioned and given in concession to private individuals for the construction of tombs in the necropolis Old St Peter s Basilica was erected by Constantine over the site using some of the existing structure of the Circus of Nero The basilica was sited so that its apse was centred on Peter s tomb now beneath the high altar of the current St Peter s Basilica Most of the ruins of the Circus survived until 1450 when they were finally destroyed by the construction of the new St Peter s Basilica Place of martyrdom editMain article Saint Peter s tomb The circus was the site of the first organized state sponsored martyrdoms of Christians in 65 AD Tradition holds that two years later Saint Peter and many other Christians shared their fate The circumstances were described in detail by Tacitus in a well known passage of the Annals xv 44 The site for crucifixions in the Circus would have been along the spina spine as suggested by the 2nd century Acts of Peter describing the spot of his martyrdom as inter duas metas between the two metae or turning posts which would have been equidistant between the two ends of the circus The obelisk at the centre of this circus s spina always remained standing until it was re erected in Saint Peter s Square in the 16th century by the architect Domenico Fontana The obelisk was originally brought to Rome by Caligula Nearby Roman cemetery editThe Via Cornelia ran parallel with the north side of the Circus and its course can be traced with precision for pagan tombs have been discovered at various times along its edges Sante Bartoli s memoirs record that when Alexander VII was building the left wing of Bernini s colonnade and the lefthand fountain a tomb was discovered with a bas relief above the door representing a marriage scene vi era un bellissimo bassorilievo di un matrimonio antico Others were soon found The best discovery that of pagan tombs exactly on the line of St Peter s tomb was made in the presence of Grimaldi 9 November 1616 On that day I entered a square sepulchral room the ceiling of which was ornamented with designs in painted stucco There was a medallion in the centre with a figure in high relief The door opened on the Via Cornelia which was on the same level This tomb is located under the seventh step in front of the middle door of the church I am told that the sarcophagus now used as a fountain in the court of the Swiss Guards was discovered at the time of Gregory XIII in the same place and that it contained the body of a pagan See also editCircus Maximus Index of Vatican City related articlesReferences edit Based on Outline of St Peter s Old St Peter s and Circus of Nero Coarelli Filippo 1974 Guida archeologica di Roma in Italian Milan Arnoldo Mondadori Editore ISBN 978 88 04 11896 1 p 311 Liverani Paolo 2016 Claudio Parisi Presicce Laura Petacco eds Un destino di marginalita storia e topografia dell area vaticana nell antichita La Spina dall Agro vaticano a via della Conciliazione in Italian Rome ISBN 978 88 492 3320 9 p 21 Tacitus Annals 14 14 4 Liverani Paolo 2016 Claudio Parisi Presicce Laura Petacco eds Un destino di marginalita storia e topografia dell area vaticana nell antichita La Spina dall Agro vaticano a via della Conciliazione in Italian Rome ISBN 978 88 492 3320 9 p 23 Castagnoli Ferdinando Cecchelli Carlo Giovannoni Gustavo Zocca Mario 1958 Topografia e urbanistica di Roma Bologna Cappelli p 239External links editstpetersbasilica info Largest online source of information on St Peter s Basilica and Square in the Vatican City Lacus Curtius website Circus of Nero plan superposed with the Basilicas showing the tomb of Peter and text by Rodolfo Lanciani describing the largely inadvertent archaeology Lucentini M 31 December 2012 The Rome Guide Step by Step through History s Greatest City Interlink ISBN 9781623710088 nbsp Media related to Circus of Nero Rome at Wikimedia Commons Preceded byCircus of Maxentius Landmarks of RomeCircus of Nero Succeeded byColosseum Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Circus of Nero amp oldid 1188102260, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
