The Regio VI Alta Semita is the sixth regio of imperial Rome, under Augustus's administrative reform. Regio VI took its name from the street ( Alta Semita , "High Path") passing over the Quirinal Hill. It was a large regio that also encompassed the Viminal Hill, the lower slopes of the Pincian, and the valleys in-between.
Regio VI was defined by its principal artery, the Alta Semita, which led from the Quirinal through the Porta Collina to the Porta Nomentana. The Aurelian Wall marked most of its eastern and northern edge along with the Via Salaria vetus, with the Argiletum and Vicus Patricius on the south and southeast. [1] The three principal gates that ran through the walls in this region were the Porta Nomentana, Porta Salaria and the Porta Pinciana. A measurement taken at the end of the 4th century recorded that the perimeter of the region was 15,700 Roman feet (approximately 4.64km). [2]
Located in this region were some of the oldest temples in Rome. Firstly, on the Quirinal, was an ancient temple noted for its beauty, the Temple of Salus. [3] According to the 5th Century Notitia, the Temple of Flora was also located in this region, very near the even older Capitolium Vetus , reportedly built by Numa Pompilius and dedicated to the Capitoline Triad, and the predecessor to the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus on the Capitoline Hill. Also near the Capitolium was the Temple of Quirinus, one of the most beautiful sanctuaries in the city and restored by Augustus, as well as a statue dedicated to Mamurius Veturius.
This region also contained the last two public baths built in ancient Rome: the Baths of Constantine on the Quirinal (demolished and in its place sits the Quirinal Palace), and the Baths of Diocletian on the Viminal, the largest of the imperial baths, whose ruins are still visible and partially occupied by the Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri. In front of the Baths of Constantine stood the colossal marble statues of the Horse Tamers. [4]
The northern section of the region was dominated by the Gardens of Sallust. This entertainment complex was the first public area of Rome destroyed when Alaric I penetrated the city through the gardens and was never restored. Nearby was the street where the emperor Domitian was born, the Malum Punicium, [5] the site of which he later built the Temple of the gens Flavia where his ashes were placed. [6]
The region also contained the Castra Praetoria, the barracks where the Praetorian Guard were housed. It was here that the auctioning of the emperorship took place after the murder of Pertinax, between Didius Julianus and Titus Flavius Claudius Sulpicianus. Finally, also within this region was the station of the third cohort of the Vigiles . At the turn of the 5th century, the Regio contained 17 aediculae (shrines), 146 domūs (patrician houses), 18 horrea (warehouses), 75 balneae (bath houses) and 73 loci (fountains). [7]
At the turn of the 5th century, the Regio was divided into 17 vici (districts) and 3,403 insulae (blocks). It had two curators and was served by 48 Roman magistrates. [8]
The Quirinal Hill is one of the Seven Hills of Rome, at the north-east of the city center. It is the location of the official residence of the Italian head of state, who resides in the Quirinal Palace; by metonymy "the Quirinal" has come to stand for the Italian president. The Quirinal Palace has an extension of 1.2 million square feet.
The Caelian Hill is one of the famous seven hills of Rome.
In 7 BC, Augustus divided the city of Rome into 14 administrative regions. These replaced the four regiones — or "quarters" — traditionally attributed to Servius Tullius, sixth king of Rome. They were further divided into official neighborhoods.
The Colline Gate was a landmark in ancient Rome, supposed to have been built by Servius Tullius, semi-legendary king of Rome 578–535 BC. The gate stood at the north end of the Servian Wall, and past it were two important streets, the Via Salaria and Via Nomentana. Within this area the Alta Semita linked the Quirinal with the Porta Carmentalis. Several temples were located near the gate, including temples of Venus Erycina and Fortuna. To a person facing the gate in the 3rd century AD, the Gardens of Sallust would have been on the left, with the Baths of Diocletian on the right.
The Alta Semita was a street in ancient Rome that gave its name to one of the 14 regions of Augustan Rome.
The Regio I Porta Capena is the first regio of imperial Rome, under Augustus's administrative reform. Regio I took its name from the Porta Capena, a gate of the Servian Walls, through which the Appian Way entered the city prior to the construction of the Aurelian Walls.
The Capitolium Vetus was an archaic temple in ancient Rome, dedicated to the Capitoline Triad. Vetus distinguishes it from the main temple to the Triad on the Capitol and shows that it was the older of the two and possibly the oldest temple in Rome dedicated to them. It was on a site in what is now the Trevi district, to the north of the Quirinal and to the north-west of the Ministry of Defence. Its dedicatory inscriptions were found near the ministry.
The Regio II Caelimontium is the second regio of imperial Rome, under Augustus's administrative reform. It took its name from the Caelian Hill, which the region was centred on.
The Regio III Isis et Serapis was the third regio of imperial Rome, under Augustus's administrative reform. Regio III took its name from the double sanctuary of Isis and Serapis, in the area of the Via Praenestina, containing the valley that was to be the future site of the Colosseum, and parts of the Oppian and Esquiline hills.
The Regio IV Templum Pacis is the fourth regio of imperial Rome, under Augustus's administrative reform. Regio IV took its name from the Temple of Peace built in the region by the emperor Vespasian. It includes the valley between the Esquiline and the Viminal hills, the popular area of the Subura, and the Velian Hill.
The Regio V Esquiliae is the fifth regio of imperial Rome, under Augustus's administrative reform. Regio V took its name from the Esquiline Hill. It contains parts of the Oppian Hill and Cispian Hill and of the Esquiline, plus the plain just outside the Servian walls.
The Regio VII Via Lata is the seventh regio of imperial Rome, under Augustus's administrative reform. Regio VII took its name from the wide urban street the Via Lata. It was the urban section of the Via Flaminia, which ran between the Servian walls and the Aurelian Walls, and corresponds to the modern Via del Corso. The regio contained part of the Campus Martius on the east of the street plus the Collis Hortulorum, the Pincian Hill.
The Regio VIII Forum Romanum Magnum is the eighth regio of imperial Rome, under Augustus's administrative reform. Regio VIII took its name from the Roman Forum, the political epicentre of Ancient Rome.
The Regio IX Circus Flaminius is the ninth regio of imperial Rome, under Augustus's administrative reform. Regio IX took its name from the racecourse located in the southern end of the Campus Martius, close to Tiber Island.
The Regio X Palatium is the tenth regio of imperial Rome, under Augustus's administrative reform. Regio X took its name from the Palatine Hill and the imperial palaces located on it.
The Regio XI Circus Maximus is the eleventh regio of imperial Rome, under Augustus's administrative reform. Regio XI took its name from the Circus Maximus, located in the valley between the Palatine and the Aventine hills.
The Regio XII Piscina Publica is the twelfth regio of imperial Rome, under Augustus's administrative reform. Regio XII took its name from the Piscina Publica, a swimming pool that disappeared during the middle imperial period.
The Regio XIII Aventinus is the thirteenth regio of imperial Rome, under Augustus's administrative reform. Regio XIII took its name from the hill which dominated the region, the Aventine.
The Regio XIV Transtiberim is the fourteenth regio of imperial Rome, under Augustus's administrative reform. Meaning "across the Tiber", the Regio took its name from its position on the west bank of the Tiber River.