Meta Sudans
 The Arch of Constantine seen from the Colosseum. The foundation of the Meta Sudans is visible in front of the arch | |
   Meta Sudans Shown within Rome | |
| Location | Regio III: Isis et Serapis |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 41°53′24″N 12°29′26″E / 41.8900812°N 12.4906909°E |
| Type | fountain |
| History | |
| Builder | Flavian emperors |
| Founded | Imperial period |
The Meta Sudans (
Date and location
The Meta Sudans was built some time between 89 and 96[
Name, function, and structure
A
The Meta Sudans was built of a brick and concrete core, faced with marble. It seems to have "sweated" the water (sudans means "sweating"), rather than jetting it out the top. This may mean that it oozed out the top, or perhaps that water came from holes in its side. The monument is estimated to have stood up to 17 m tall; until the 20th century, its concrete core was still over 9 m high. It had a base pool 16 m wide and 1.4 m deep.
Destruction, remains
The fountain was obviously damaged in the Middle Ages because it already appears as a ruin in early views of the Colosseum. Photos from the end of the 19th century show a conical structure of solid bricks next to the Arch of Constantine, surrounded by its own original, reflecting stone pool. The ruins of Meta Sudans survived until 1936, when Benito Mussolini had its remains demolished and paved over to make room for the new traffic circle around the Colosseum. A commemorative plaque was set in the road. Although the above-ground structure is gone, its foundations were later re-excavated, revealing the extensive substructure. After another excavation in 1997-98 the traffic circle was closed and the area became a pedestrian district.[3]
Extensive excavations directed by
References
- ISBN 9788824039505.
- ^ Becker, J. (11 November 2020). "Places: 419380619 (Meta Sudans)". Pleiades. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
- OCLC 611143750.
- ^ ROMA – VALLE DEL COLOSSEO – PALATINO NORD-ORIENTALE http://archeopalatino.uniroma1.it/it
Sources
- "Meta Sudans" From Samuel Ball Platner, A Topographical Dictionary of Ancient Rome, rev. Thomas Ashby. Oxford, 1929, p. 340-341.
- ISBN 88-04-11896-2.
- Claridge, Amanda, Rome: An Oxford Archaeological Guide, New York: Oxford University Press, 1998, ISBN 0-19-288003-9.
- ROMA – VALLE DEL COLOSSEO – PALATINO NORD-ORIENTALE
- Panella, Clementina. 1996. Meta sudans. I: Un'area sacra in Palatio e la valle del Colosseo prima e dopo Nerone. Rome: Istituto poligrafico e zecca dello stato : Libreria dello Stato.
External links
