The Caelian Hill has been part of Rome since the earliest times, though our records aren’t clear on the exact date. The historians disagree, of course – eggheads! – but they all say it was brought within Rome’s boundaries by one of the kings. What we do know is that the Caelian Hill, or rather, part of it, was included inside the boundaries of the city and enclosed by the Servian Wall when it was built in 375 A.U.C.

The district is located on the elongated ridge that forms the Mons Caelius, the hill for which the neighborhood is named. The ridge stretches from the southeast, rising from the valleys of the Circus Maximus and the vallis Camenarum, to the northeast where it joins the Mons Esquilinus plateau at the junction of the Viae Labicana and Praestina. To the north, the Caelian Hill is separated from the Esquiline by a narrow valley.

For most of Rome’s history, the largest part of the ridge lay outside the city, that is, outside the Servian Wall. Thus, residences and temples were concentrated on the spurs of the Caelius maior, sometimes called the Cerolia, and the Caelius minor, also called the Caeliolus, which were inside the city. The ridge outside the walls was not formally included within the city until it was enclosed entirely by the Aurelian Wall in 1024 A.U.C. This division was continued in the Emperor Augustus’ designation of city regions. The western Caelian spurs form Regio II; the eastern ridge is included with the Esquiline Hill in Regio V.

Some historians say that the Caelian Hill was originally called the Mons Querquetulanus because it was covered by oak trees (quercus). Alas, the truth is no longer known, but it is believed that the hill's present name was taken from that of Caelius Vibenna, a legendary Etruscan warrior. It is said the Caelius and his followers settled here in the time of Servius Tullus or perhaps Tarquinius Superbus. If so, these Etruscans joined the Latins who

Symmachus

came to Rome from Medullia after its annexation by Romulus and the citizens of Alba Longa who were moved to the Caelian Hill after Tullus Hostilius conquered their city. Tullus Hostilius himself is said to have lived here until he and his home were destroyed by lightning. Other notable residents include the consul M. Annius Verus, in whose home the Emperor Marcus Aurelius was raised, and the consul Q. Aurelius Symmachus, a renowned orator and praefectus urbi of Rome in 1137 and 1138 A.U.C. Two notable family compounds occupy lands on the central Caelian ridge, the domus Valeriorum on the north slope and the domus Laterani on the south slope.

Finding your way in the Caelian district is easy if you know the streets that traverse the neighborhood and the divisions created by the city walls. Starting from the Flavian Amphitheater, the vicus Capitis Africae and vicus Cyclopis link to cross the ridge from North to South to the Porta Metrovia in the Aurelian Wall. The Via Tusculana runs along the valley north of the Caelian Hill before crossing the central part of the ridge to exit the city at the Porta Asinuria. Starting from just northeast and just southeast of the Circus Maximus, the vicus Scauri and the vicus Honoris et Virtutis cross the Caelian minor West to East to intersect at the junction of the vicus Capitis Africae and vicus Cyclopis. From this point, a single road runs along the top of the Caelian ridge to the Porta Praenestina, from which the Viae Labicana and Praenestina depart Rome.

There are few major temples in the Caelian district, but the gods are not forgotten. In addition to shrines to the local deities of Iuppiter Caelius and the genius Caelimontis, those seeking the favor of the gods may visit the temples of Diana and Minerva Capta on the Caelius minor or the shrine of Stata Mater on the street of the same name. There is a fountain dedicated to Mercury along the clivus Scaurus on the Caelius maior.

By far the largest temple, indeed the largest building in the district, is the Temple of the Divine Claudius. The structure rises from an enormous podium at the base of the Caelian Hill facing the Flavian Amphitheater and is built into the northwestern spur of the ridge. The temple with its extensive porticus sits atop the lower tiers.

T. Claudius and Aqua Claudia

Divus Claudius

The district's residents are fortunate in the location of public services. The massive structure of the Aqua Claudia dominates the view as it runs along the length of the Caelian ridge. Begun by the Emperor Gaius, the aqueduct was completed by the Emperor Claudius to bring fresh clear water from springs in the Anio valley. Fresh food is available in the ornate Macellum Magnum built by the Nero Augustus. Children whose parents follow the Way may study at their own schola in the neighborhood. For adult scholars, a cultural center for the study of the African provinces has been established in the Domus Africae.

Public safety is insured by the Cohortes Vigilum, the city's police and firefighers. Residents of the western Caelian in city Regio II are protected by the vigiles of Cohors V, whose barracks is located on the vicus Cyclopis. Residents of Regio V are served by the vigiles of Cohors II, located in the Equiline district. Two military camps have also been established on the Caelian Hill. Supply officers and military couriers from the legions and provincial armies are quartered at the Castra Peregrina on the Caelian major. The cavalry of the imperial bodyguard have barracks and stables in the Castra Equitum Singularum, near the eastern end of the ridge.

City Builders: Maria Marius Serica Antonius Heraklia Aelius Prefect: Titus Sabinus Flavius Notable Residents: Inaras Junius Antonia Marius Elenia Servilius Gaius Aurelius Valerius

Images:
Mons Caelius map created by M. Fabius Furius based on the map in A Topographical Dictionary of Ancient Rome, Samuel Ball Platner (as completed and revised by Thomas Ashby), originally published by Oxford University Press in 1929, available at Bill Thayer’s Lacus Curtius website.
Detail of an ivory panel in honory of Aurelius Symmachus, c. 400 A.D. in the British Museum; photo from Victor Verney blog with no source notes.
Area of the Temple of Claudius and Aqua Claudia on the Caelius Major from a model of Rome, c. 4th Century A.D. in the Museum of Roman Civilization, Rome; and a statue of Claudius portrayed as Jupiter in the Vatican Museum from VRoma Project image galleries.
Reverse of a dupondius of Nero, issued c. 64 A.D. showing the Macellum Magnum from WildWinds.com.
Lions mosaic in the El Jem Coliseum Museum, Tunisia; source lost.
Relief from the excubitorium of Cohors VII Vigiles, Transtiberum.


Hood Text by Titus Flavius Sabinus
Revised 11/11