Discusses the history of the Roman Forum and Colosseum, two large meeting places, and the uses to which they were put during the last years of the Roman Republic and the early years of the Roman Empire.

One of the most visited sites in Italy, the Roman Forum is also one of the best-known wonders of the Roman world. Though a highpoint on the tourist route around Rome, for many visitors the site can be a baffling disappointment. Several of the monuments turn out to be nineteenth- or twentieth-century reconstructions, while the rubble and the holes made by archaeologists have an unclear relationship to the standing remains, and, to all but the most skilled Romanists, the Forum is an unfortunate mess. David Watkin sheds completely new light on the Forum, examining the roles of the ancient remains while revealing what exactly the standing structures embodyÑincluding the rarely studied medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque churches, as well as the nearby monuments that have important histories of their own. Watkin asks the reader to look through the veneer of archaeology to rediscover the site as it was famous for centuries. This involves offering a remarkable and engaging new vision of a well-visited, if often misunderstood, wonder. It will be enjoyed by readers at home and serve as a guide in the Forum.

A unique and user-friendly guide to the Roman Forum in Rome, Italy. The book makes sense of what of appears to many visitors as a pile of rock amd presents the Forum's history and monuments in chronological order. The frequent use of visual aids (i.e. maps, photos, and prints) makes the text even more comprehensible. Daniella Hunt, the author, has woven together modern archeological studies and ancient authors' explanations and comments to tell the story of the Forum's development, monuments, and habitues with her powers of synthesis and sense of humor.

DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Rome is your in-depth guide to the very best of Rome, the most fascinating city in Italy. Experience classical Rome and step inside the iconic Colosseum; experience the religious Rome and visit Vatican City, a country all its own; experience the delicious Rome and stroll the city's beautiful piazzas with a gelato in hand. Discover DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Rome. + Detailed itineraries and "don't-miss" destination highlights at a glance. + Illustrated cutaway 3-D drawings of important sights. + Floor plans and guided visitor information for major museums. + Guided walking tours, local drink and dining specialties to try, things to do, and places to eat, drink, and shop by area. + Area maps marked with sights and restaurants. + Detailed city maps include street finder index for easy navigation. + Insights into history and culture to help you understand the stories behind the sights. + Suggested day-trips and itineraries to explore beyond the city. + Hotel and restaurant listings highlight DK Choice special recommendations. With hundreds of full-color photographs, hand-drawn illustrations, and custom maps that illuminate every page, DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Rome truly shows you what others only tell you.

This is the first book to analyze the evolution of the Roman amphitheatre as an architectural form. Katherine Welch addresses the critical period in the history of this building type: its origins and dissemination under the Republic, from the third to first centuries BC; its monumentalization as an architectural form under Augustus; and its canonization as a building type with the Colosseum (AD 80). The study then shifts focus to the reception of the amphitheatre in the Greek East, a part of the Empire deeply fractured about the new realities of Roman rule.

Contains transparent overlays, artists reconstruction of original Roman buildings.