TC357: Images of Rome

Ancient Rome in Fascist Italy

I. Roman Images in Italy Before Mussolini

1. Tomb of Mazzini (died 1872). Genoa, Italy.

2. Victor Emmanuel Monument, Rome (begun 1885, completed 1911).

3. Monument in honor of Italian dead from the 1st World War who fought "like Romans." Vico Equense, Italy.

4. Inscription from monument in honor of Italian dead from the 1st World War who fought "like Romans." Vico Equense, Italy. "Vico Equense, to her sons who fall like Romans on land and sea for the greatness of Italy in the war of the just vindication, 1915-1918."

II. Ancient Rome in Fascist Monuments Around Italy

1. Paestum: Reused ancient fountain with fascist year and fasces.

2. Brescia: Fascist Piazza with rostra.

3. Padua: Fascist map of "New Roman Empire" depicted on a building.

4. Genoa: Piazza della Vittoria with Fascist era arch. The piazza was designed by Piacentini and inaugurated in 1932.

5. Genoa: Piazza della Vittoria

6. Genoa: Fascist era tomb.

III. Ancient Rome in Fascist Rome

A. Foro Mussolini (now Foro Italico)

Obelisk inscribed "Mussolini Dux" in Mussolini's Foro Italico (originally called Foro Mussolini). The obelisk, by Constantino Constantini, is 17m high without the base, and 36m high with the base and the point. Rome. 1932.

Obelisk inscribed "Mussolini Dux" in Mussolini's Foro Italico

Mosaics in central piazza of Mussolini's Foro Italico. Rome.

Mosaic reading "the leader to us" in central piazza of Mussolini's Foro Italico. Rome.

Mosaics of ancient and modern workers, fascist eagles in central piazza. of Mussolini's Foro Italico. Rome.

Statue of modern soldier. Mussolini's Foro Italico. Rome.

Statues around the stadium representing sports and regions of Italy in Mussolini's Foro Italico, Rome.

Statues around the stadium representing sports and regions of Italy in Mussolini's Foro Italico, Rome.

Statues around the stadium representing sports and regions of Italy in Mussolini's Foro Italico, Rome.

Statue representing Viterbo. Mussolini's Foro Italico, Rome.

Statue representing Rome in Mussolini's Foro Italico, Rome.

Statue at stadium representing a region of Italy. Mussolini's Foro Italico. Rome.

Statue of a naked youth with a strigil. One of the statues around stadium representing sports and regions of Italy in Mussolini's Foro Italico. Rome.

Mosaics of athletes around the pool in Mussolini's Foro Italico. Rome.

Mosaics of athletes and myth around the pool in Mussolini's Foro Italico. Rome.

B. Piazza Augusto Imperatore (the mausoleum of Augustus and its surroundings)

Piazza Augusto imperatore, built by Mussolini around Mausoleum of Augustus.

Piazza Augusto imperatore, built by Mussolini around Mausoleum of Augustus.

Interior of Mausoleum of Augustus, Rome.

Mausoleum of Augustus, interior. Restored inscriptions over burial urns with fascist dates. Inscriptions read: "Ossa Neronis Caesaris Germanici F. Divi. Aug. Pron. Flamin. Augustulis Quaestoris" and Ossa Ti. Caesarus Divi. Aug. F. Augusti Pontificis Maxim. Trib. Pot. XXXIIX Imp. VII. Cos. V"

Piazza Augusto imperatore and Mausoleum of Augustus, with building for Ara Pacis in background, Rome.

C. Central Rome

Palazzo Venezia with Mussolini's balcony. Built in AD 1455 by Leon Battista Alberti, this building was used as the embassy of the Republic of Venice from the sixteenth century. During the Facist Period (1929 - 1943) it housed Mussolini's office, and he gave his speeches from the balcony.

Fascist marker marking opening of Via del Impero (now Via dei Fori Imperiali), Rome.

Obelisk looted by the Italians from Axum in the north of occupied Ethiopia in 1937 and put up by Mussolini. The Ethiopians have repeatedly demanded its return but, despite Italian promises, it remains in Rome's Piazza di Porta Capena. 24 meters high. 160 tonnes

Maps of Roman empire at various periods put up by Mussolini on the Basilica of Constantine, Rome.

Maps of Roman empire at various periods put up by Mussolini on the Basilica of Constantine, Rome.

Map of Roman Empire under Trajan put up by Mussolini, Rome.

Blank space where map of "new Roman empire" put up by Mussolini was, Rome.

Remains of map of "new Roman empire" put up by Mussolini, Rome.

Remains of map of "new Roman empire" put up by Mussolini, Rome.

Remains of map of "new Roman empire" put up by Mussolini, Rome.

Remains of map of "new Roman empire" put up by Mussolini, Rome.

Remains of map of "new Roman empire" put up by Mussolini, Rome.

Remains of map of "new Roman empire" put up by Mussolini, Rome.

Decree handing Ethiopia over to Italy, from map of "new Roman empire" put up by Mussolini, Rome.

D. Monument commemorating those who fought in Garibaldi's siege of Rome in 1849

Entrance

Exterior with brazier.

Mosaic of sword with eagle.

Relief sculpture with Roman symbols.

Relief sculpture with armor.

Relief sculpture with sword.

Interior with inscription from Livy: "Et facere et pati fortia Romanum est": "It is Roman to do and endure brave things."

E. EUR (Esposizione Universale di Roma)

Palazzo della Civiltà del Lavoro, E.U.R., Rome.

Statues, Fascist Palazzo della Civiltà del Lavoro, E.U.R., Rome.

Statue of Castor or Pollux with rearing horse, Fascist Palazzo della Civiltà del Lavoro, E.U.R., Rome.

Statue of Rome, personified in the Fascist Palazzo della Civiltà del Lavoro, E.U.R., Her tablet is inscribed: Roma Invicta.

Palazzo dei Congressi and Square, E.U.R., Rome.

Museo della Civiltà Romana, built under Mussolini, E.U.R., Rome.

Casts of Roman sculpture, including the Prima Porta Augustus, in Museo della Civiltà Romana.

Church of Saints Peter and Paul, built under Mussolini, E.U.R., Rome.

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