The “Seven” Hills of Rome (2 of 2)

Aventine (Mons Aventinus)

The traditional home of Remus, brother to Romulus was on the Aventine Hill. Sighting vultures flying overhead, Remus thought the City should be built there. However, the two Brothers warred and Romulus killed Remus.

 

Outside of the Pomerium, Aventine Hill became the place for foreign Gods and their cults. Mercury and Diana had their temples here. It was where foreigners, who when they first came to Rome, would cross over the Tiber on the Pons Sublicius. (Note 4)

 

Later the temples to Ceres, Liber, and Libera were established. Since the Aventine was the home of the plebians, these three Gods became known as the Aventine Triad. They protected the rights of the plebians as a counter to the Capitoline Triad. In 456 BCE, ownership of the Hill was bestowed to the plebians by the Roman dictator, Aulius Regillensis.

 

Esquiline Hill (Mons Esquilinus) (Note 5)

Esquiline Hill lay beyond the traditional City limits. Therefore, the people who lived there were referred to as exquilini (outsiders), while the people residing in the City were inquilini (in-towners). Because the Hill was beyond City limits, it became a necropolis. The burial pits (puticuli) of the poor and the bodies of the executed were located on this Hill. In additions, many plebeians buried their dead on the southern part of the Esquiline known as the commune sepulcrum.

 

When Augustus became Emperor, he refilled in the burial pits. After putting a clean bed of soil on top of the filled pits, he built the Horti Maecenatis (Gardens of Maecenas), a natural sanctuary there. The Gardens included baths and libraries.

 

Esquiline Hill also includes Cispian (northern spur), Oppian (southern spur) and Fagutal (western spur) Hills.

 

Cispian Hill (Mons Cispius)

This Hill was named for a legendary Cispius Laevus of Anagnia.

 

Oppian Hill (Mons Oppius)

This Hill included Fagutal Hill. Varro claims that the name of the Hill came from Oppius of Tusculum. This warlord aided the Romans during the siege, led by Tullus Hostilius (Third King of Rome) of Veii, an Etruscan city. Oppian Hill was referred to in religious ceremonies until the end of the Republic.

 

Fagutal Hill (Mons Fagutalis)

Named for the beech trees (lucus fagutalis), Fagutal Hill was connected to Oppian Hill.

 

Quirinal Hill (Mons Quirinalis) (Note 5)

This Hill was named for the Sabine God of War, Quirinus. (Note 6) Originally the home of the Sabines, Quirinal Hill became the home of Numa Populus (Second King of Rome). Moreover, Titus Tatius, King of the Sabines and joint ruler of Rome with Romulus, lived there as a symbol of the peace between the Sabines and Romans.

 

Viminal Hill (Mons Viminalis) (Note 5)

This is the smallest of the Hills of Rome. Originally a fortress, Viminal Hill was the last to be included in the Septimontium. Livy said that this Hill and Quirinal Hill became a part of the City during the reign of Servius Tullius (the Sixth King of Rome).

 

The name “viminal” for this Hill came from the willow trees that grew there. The name was derived from “vimina,” a dated term for willow. A temple to Jupiter of the Willows (Iuppiter Viminius) was erected there. Later, one of the first public bath complexes was built by Emperor Maximian to honor his co-emperor Diocletian at Viminal Hill.

 

Caelian Hill (Mons Caelius)

Famous for its oak forests, this Hill was one of the original Septimontium. It was named for Caelius Vibenna, an Etruscan warlord, who lived there. He fought with Romulus against the Sabines.

 

Velia Hill (Mons Velia or Veliae (plural))

It is not sure how the Hill received its name. The oldest temple to Jupiter Stator (the Sustainer, Stayer of the Rout) was there. Livy wrote that Romulus made a vow to Jupiter Stator if the God would stop the Romans from fleeing and save the City. The temple was built after Jupiter Stator staved off the Sabine attack.

 

Velia Hill also housed the Sacred Fire of Vesta. This fire was brought by Numa Pompilius (Second King of Rome), who established the order of the Vestal Virgins. He built the circular temple to symbolize the hearth as the center of Roman life.

 

A spur of the Palatine Hill, Velia Hill housed the Temple of Venus Felix and Roma Aeterna. Emperor Hadrian designed the temple, which was eventually finished by Antoninus Pius. This became the largest temple complex in Rome.

 

Notes:

Note 1: The Fagutal, Oppian and Cispian Hills are spurs of Esquiline Hill.

 

Note 2: Romulus started the wall around the Palatine Hill. He later expanded the wall to include Capitoline and Quirinal Hills. Later kings included Aventine and Caelian Hills. Servius Tullis added the Esquiline and Viminal Hills.

 

Note 3: From my own experience of walking the local hills of my home, they do have a sense of their own being. One huge hill near the main road challenges humans who go up and down it. This Hill regards Itself the ruler of the area.

 

Note 4: This was the oldest known bridge in Rome. Made of wood, the bridge was wobbly at best.

 

Note 5: The Viminal, Esquiline and Quirinal Hills are also referred to as “calles” since they are smaller than “montes,” peaks.

 

Note 6. Quirinus became the deified Romulus, and Romans were referred to as “Quirites.”

 

Suggested Reading: “The Seven Hills of Rome,” by Charles River Editors.