Mausoleum of Augustus

The Mausoleum of Augustus, located in Piazza Augusto Imperatore in Rome, is one of the most imposing and historically significant funerary monuments in the city. Built in 28 BC on the initiative of Augustus, the first Roman emperor, the mausoleum was designed to be the burial place of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. This circular monument, inspired by the mausoleum of Alexander the Great in Alexandria and the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, is a lasting testament to the power and grandeur of the Roman Empire. Upon his return from Egypt, after defeating Mark Antony in the Battle of Actium, Augustus decided to build an imposing mausoleum in the northern Campus Martius. The monument, with a diameter of about 87 meters, is the largest known circular tomb and features a complex structure with overlapping levels, concentric rings, and radial walls. At the top of the mausoleum stood a bronze statue of Augustus, dominating the surrounding landscape. The mausoleum housed the remains of numerous members of the imperial family, starting with Marcus Claudius Marcellus, Augustus’ beloved nephew, who died in 23 BC. Among others buried there were Agrippa, Augustus’ son-in-law, Drusus the Elder, Lucius and Gaius Caesar, the emperor’s adopted sons, and finally Augustus himself in 14 AD. Subsequently, other important members of the dynasty were also interred there, such as Livia Drusilla, Tiberius, Drusus the Younger, and Germanicus. During the Middle Ages, the mausoleum underwent numerous transformations and looting. In the 12th century, the Colonna family turned it into a fortress, a common practice in Rome where ancient monuments were reused for defensive purposes. In the Renaissance, the mausoleum became a garden and later a vineyard. In the 18th century, it was adapted as a concert hall and theater, known as the Correa Amphitheater, and later as the Augustus Theater. With the advent of the fascist regime, the mausoleum was the subject of a vast urban redevelopment project. Between 1936 and 1940, the surrounding buildings were demolished and the area was rediscovered, culminating in the creation of Piazza Augusto Imperatore. The urban interventions were directed by the architect Vittorio Ballio Morpurgo, following the 1931 urban plan. During these works, excavations were carried out that revealed significant parts of the original structure. Despite centuries of looting and transformations, the mausoleum has retained its grandeur. The imposing travertine base and the remains of the walls offer a fascinating glimpse into the grandeur of the original project. The recent restoration, started in 2008 and completed in 2020, has allowed the monument to regain some of its ancient splendor, making it accessible to the public once again. Inside the mausoleum, the brick structures and marble plaques, with the names of the Julio-Claudian dynasty members, testify to the historical importance of the site. Among these, the tomb of Agrippina the Elder, mother of Emperor Caligula, stands out. The plaque reads: “Bones of Agrippina; daughter of Marcus Agrippa, niece of the Divine Augustus, wife of Germanicus Caesar, mother of Prince Gaius Caesar Augustus Germanicus.” The recent reopening to the public in March 2021 has seen a renewed interest in the mausoleum, with guided tours offering an in-depth look at the history and architecture of the monument. The surrounding square has been enriched with new paving, trees, and a seating area for performances, creating an environment that seamlessly integrates the ancient and the modern.