Hotelrome.net Blog : A guide to news and events in Rome

After a small break, I came back with the stories about the Capitol Hill of Rome.

I hope you will not be annoyed with my historical outline, but will learn something new and next time you come to Rome you will surprise you friends with your knowledge.

So let us start…

In Rome there are many legends of the glorious past of its ancient empire. One of these concerns Castor and Pollux.

The introduction of the cult of Dioscuri, or Castori, is closely linked to a specific episode: the battle at the lake Regillo that saw the Romans opposed to Latins.

The Latins were allies of the Tarquinio Superbo, seventh and the last king of Rome. He was the dynasty of Etruscan Tarquini and he reigned from 535 a. C. to 510 a.C., when he was banned from Rome. It was an important date in Rome, because with the Tarquinio Superbo ending the Etruscan hegemony on the city of Rome, which began with the reign of Tarquinio Prisco. After the last king, Rome became free and the Repubblic was founded.

The battle of Lake Regillo is one of the first legendary Roman victories. Legendary because we don’t have precise references (documents seems to have been lost in the fire following the invasion of the Brenno’s Gauls). Legendary also because it says that the outcome of the battle, initially unfavourable to the warriors of Rome, has been decided by the appareance of mythological Dioscuri: Castor and Pollux.

Tarquino, already chased away from Rome, attempted to regain power.

The Roman dictator Aulus Postumia Albino, departed from Rome with large forces of infantry and cavalry and met the enemy army at Lake Regillo, in the territory of Tuscolo. After a first phase with uncertain outcome, the battle was about to turn in favour of Latin ranks when Aulus Postumia prayed Jupiter that granted his victory’s wish. In the clamor of battle, two mysterious knight appeared between the forces in the field, and they led the Roman armies to victory. Leaving the battlefield, the two young appeared again inside the walls of Rome and they announced the successful victory over the Latins at the citizenship, and then they would be disappeared into the air(I talk about this another day*).

There are different statues of Dioscuri that can be admired even today in Rome, for example, on the Quirinale hill and on the balustrade of the piazza del Campidoglio. Here, at the top of the stairs, there are the colossal groups of the Dioscuri, Castor from one side, and Pollux from the other side.

The legend of Dioscuri is the introduction of a greek myth in Roman tradition. In fact, Castor and Pollux, in Greeks centres of southern Italy, were considered the “Numi Tutelari” of chivalry, which was established exclusively by characters in the aristocracy. The recruitment in Rome of a cult of aristocracy could mean the need for a strengthening of political power by the classes of “Romans gentilizi”, at a time when the transition from monarchy to republican institutions could involve strong social tensions.

From the mythological’s side, more simply, the Dioscuri represent the will of the gods of the birth of a Roman empire free from foreign yoke, as will by that time.

Our historical adventure, of course, does not end here, and I heartly welcome you to visit Rome and enjoy all these treasure by yourselves. My suggestion is to stay in bugdet and cosy hotel Nice Hotel and enjoy history in its relaxing atmosphere.

The Roman Forum in Rome by the Colosseum is one of the most fascinating sites in Rome. The Forum was the central area around which ancient Rome developed in which commerce, prostitution, cult, and the administration of justice took place. It is located in central Rome close to our hotel Yes Hotel Rome

The communal hearth was also located here. Within the forum you will find the remains of ancient Rome such as: “Temple of Vestaâ€? “House of the Vestalsâ€? “The Temple of Antoninus and Faustinaâ€? Basilica di Massenzio e Costantino and Arch of Titus. The temple to the Divine Julius, dedicated in 29BC to the deified Caesar the first case of political deification in Rome, it was built in a Hellenistic style, and is located in the background, towards the Vestal Virgins, “the guardians of the everlasting flame, who were the only priestesses in Romeâ€? The podiums of the temples of Caesar and the Dioscuri were often used as orators’ platforms and it is in this part of the Forum that the meetings of the comitia took place.

On the far right is the Basilica Julia built by Caesar in 54 B.C which occupies the entire south side of the Forum. When the Roman Empire fell, the Forum became forgotten, buried and was used as a cattle pasture during the middle Ages.

The Roman Forum is opened from 9am to 6pm Monday to Saturday, On Metro Line B (Colosseo) 3 Stops from Castro Pretorio Station where Hotel Des Artistes is located.

Alternatively if you wish to have a full informative tour you can book our Roman forum Tour which also covers the Colosseum, the Trevi fountain and the Pantheon.