Mausoleum of Augustus

Mausoleum of Augustus

The Mausoleum of Augustus is a large tomb built for the Roman Emperor, constructed in 28 BC on the Campus Martius in Rome, now situated in the Piazza Augusto Imperatore. Although time and neglect have damaged the ruins, they remain an impressive dominant structure on the northern side of the Campus Martius.

One of the earliest projects Augustus undertook after his victory at the Battle of Actium in 31 BC was the construction of the Mausoleum in Rome. The tomb was designed in a circular plan, consisting of several concentric rings planted with cypress trees, featuring a conical roof and a statue of Augustus. A pair of pink granite obelisks stood on either side of the arched entrance—one now located in Piazza Esquilino (northwest of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore), the other in the Quirinal Fountain. The completed mausoleum had a diameter of 90 meters and a height of 42 meters.

The outer wall of the mausoleum was made of concrete and faced with rectangular blocks of travertine. Inside the outer wall was a complex system composed of four circular and large semi-circular walls, also built from concrete but now mostly surfaced with reticulated travertine. In this way, the interior of the building was divided into concentric chambers, which were simply filled with earth. The burial chambers were set apart at a distance and accessible through multiple passageways. A corridor led from the entrance to the center of the mausoleum, where a room with three niches housed golden urns containing the ashes of the imperial family.

Mausoleum of Augustus

Why Go: One of the most impressive mausoleums of a Roman emperor

Continent: Europe【Europe】

Country/Region: Italy[Italy]

Province/State: Lazio Region [Lazio Region]

City: Rome [Rome]