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| The Mausoleum of Augustus |
The Mausoleum of Augustus
After the Battle at Actium in 31BC emperor Augustus decided to build his own mausoleum. In 29BC the mausoleum was finished. The original mausoleum had 4 circular rings and a statue of emperor Augustus on top. Unfortunately, in time, all these rings were worn and only 2 rings still remain.
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| The Original Mausoleum of Augustus |
Today you can't visit the mausoleum anymore, but you can still see it if you are on Piazza Augusto Imperatore.
A corridor ran from the entryway into the heart of the Mausoleum, where there was a chamber with three niches to hold the golden urns enshrining the ashes of the Imperial Family. The family of Augustus, the family of Claudius. And Nerva, the last emperor for whom the mausoleum was opened.
In 410, during the sack of Rome by Alaric, the pillaging Visigoths rifled the vaults, stole the urns and scattered the ashes, without damaging the structure of the building.
In the Middle Ages the artificial tumulus was fortified as a castle— as was the mausoleum of Hadrian, turned into the Castel Sant'Angelo.
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| The Mausoleum of Augustus on map |
