Mausoleum of Augustus
Mausoleo di Augusto
building in Campo Marzio, Italy
Contents
8 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1Orientation2:23
Welcome to the Mausoleum of Augustus, the most monumental tomb ever constructed for an individual in the Roman world. Standing nearly 90 meters in diameter and once reaching a height of 50 meters, this colossal structure was a…
Listen in the app2The Entrance and the Obelisks — Symbols of Conquest2:04
Let us begin our walk at the main entrance, which faces due south. In antiquity, this entrance was a place of high symbolic density. …
Listen in the app3The Concentric Rings — A Feat of Engineering2:04
As we move into the structure, we can appreciate the incredible engineering of the mausoleum’s core. The building is organized as a series of concentric rings of massive concrete walls, joined by radial 'buttressing' walls. …
Listen in the app4The Central Burial Chamber — The Heart of the Tomb2:09
We have now reached the heart of the mausoleum: the central burial chamber. This is a vaulted, circular space that was once the most sacred spot in Rome. …
Listen in the app5The Imperial Residents — A Who’s Who of Rome2:19
As we walk through the corridors, let us consider the individuals who were laid to rest within these walls. The mausoleum was a family tomb, but its definition of 'family' was strictly controlled by Augustus. …
Listen in the app6The Tholos and the Statue — The Pinnacle of Power2:05
If you look up from the central courtyard, you must imagine the mausoleum’s original vertical profile. Above the burial chamber, the structure likely rose in a series of terraces to a 'tholos'—a round, temple-like structure. …
Listen in the app7The Cypress Grove — Symbolism of Eternal Mourning2:06
The upper terraces of the mausoleum were not just made of stone; they were covered in earth and planted with groves of cypress trees. These trees were deeply symbolic in the ancient world, associated with mourning, the…
Listen in the app8Closing2:01
As we conclude our journey through the Mausoleum of Augustus, we are left with a profound sense of the 'image' that Augustus so carefully cultivated. This tomb was his final, most enduring political statement. …
Listen in the app
What is Mausoleum of Augustus?
Mausoleum of Augustus is a place with 8 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Type | Heritage |
|---|---|
| Story sections | 8 |
| Total length | 17 min 11 s in all |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | 41.9061, 12.4764 |
| Last updated |
