Mausoleum of Augustus

Denyce AlvarezLatin 2 A3

April 5, 2010

Who built it?

• Augustus– First Roman emperor– Formerly known as Octavian Julio Claudia

• The Mausoleum shows his power, wealth and superiority

When and why was it built?

• It was built in 27 BC

• Where Augustus, his family and some emperors would be buried– Put in a golden urn

• Barbarians stole around fifth century—threw ashes on the ground and took golden urns

Architecture

• Circle– Diameter of 88 meters and 44 meters in

height– Based on the Etruscan tumulus

• Two acres of land

• Area of important urns—surrounded by rings of niches for other family members

Architecture

• Entrance of door used to have an Egyptian obelisk– Which included his achievements and

influence on Rome

• Outer wall made of white marble

• Had great building resources– Thieves steal these materials to what we now

see

Obelisks

Architecture

• Bottom layer– Cypress trees planted

• Center top– a large bronze statue of Augustus

What we see now

• The brick core

• Overgrown plants– Sackings– Neglect– Fortress used

Inner wing, west Inner wing, east

Formerly used

• It was used for a – Vineyard– Garden– Amphitheater– Theater – Auditorium

• Tomb• Castle• Fortress

Where is it located?

• Located in the Campus Martinus

Tomb

• Augustus’s nephew was the first to be buried– Marcellus in 23 BC

• Last one to be buried– Nerva in 98 AD

• His daughter and granddaughter not allowed to be buried because of his resentment towards them.

Marcellus’ tombstone