Rome October 2007 » Wall and City Gates » Porta S. Paolo  (4 Slides)     [Page 1 of 1] :: Jump To  
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PortaSPaolo_01 * 2649 x 1767 * (1.16MB)
PortaSPaolo_02 * 3072 x 2304 * (1.3MB)
PortaSPaolo_03 * Romans liked Egypt so much that not only did they put obelisks everywhere in Rome, but even adopted the pyramidal form for their tombs (or at least those Romans who had great self-esteem and lots of money). A large inscription on the side of the pyramid next to Porta S. Paolo tells us that it was built (some 30 years before Christ) as a tomb for Caius Cestius, son of Lucius, who had been praetor (an annually elected magistrate), tribune of the people and epulonum, a member of a group of seven priests who superintended the solemn sacrificial banquets. The pyramid was built in 330 days. In 275 A.D. the Emperor Aurelianus took advantage of the pyramid to save some of the wall he erected and this saved the pyramid. In the XVIIth century Pope Alexander VII extricated the deeply embedded monument and restored the marble coverage. The excavations led to the finding of two columns which once stood at the two corners of the pyramid not facing the street (on the corners on Via Ostiense there were two bronze statues -lost- of Caius Cestius). A narrow passage was dug to reach the funeral chamber, but it was found empty as it had already been looted. The chamber is decorated with grotesques. * 2304 x 3072 * (1.43MB)
PortaSPaolo_04 * 2549 x 1697 * (659KB)
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The gate built by Aurelianus in 275 A.D. is the internal one and has two passages. Thus the name of Trigemina was given to the gate because of the three passages (overall). The original name however was Porta Ostiensis as it led to ancient Ostia. The name S. Paolo refers to the fact that pilgrims went from here to St. Paul's Basilica (through a mile long little porch). The gate is now at the center of a very large square and traffic goes around the gate through large passages in the walls. The small church of SS. Salvatore was pulled down to enlarge Via Ostiense. The area is close to a railway station, to the underground and to the metropolitan railway to Ostia
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