In 7 BC,Augustus divided the city ofRome into 14 administrative regions (Latinregiones,sing.regio). These replaced the fourregiones—or "quarters"—traditionally attributed toServius Tullius, sixthking of Rome. They were further divided into official neighborhoods (vici).[1]
Originally designated by number, the regions acquired nicknames from major landmarks ortopographical features within them. After the reign ofConstantine the Great, the imperial city ofConstantinople was also divided into fourteenregiones, on the Roman example: the14 regions of Constantinople.[2]
Evidence of regions in Rome before Augustus is limited.[3] Writing in the mid-40s BC,Marcus Terentius Varro describes four 'partes urbis', referring to them individually as a ‘regio’ with both names and numbers: I Suburana, II Esquilina, III Collina and IV Palatina.[3]
Varro also provides evidence for vici inRepublican Rome, deriving the word vicus from via and which are analogous to our modern ‘neighbourhoods’.[3] By the middle Republic each vicus had a local official known as a vicomagister.[3]
By the time of Augustus, local shrines in the vici had become neglected[3] and from around 12 BC he began restoring individual vicus shrines before comprehensive reform in 7 BC, including codifying the rights and duties of the vicomagistri.[3] At this time, the city was reorganised into the fourteen Augustan 'regiones' overseen by senatorial magistrates.[3]
Regio I took its name from thePorta Capena ("Gate to Capua"), a gate of theServian Wall, through which theAppian Way enters the city. Beginning from this to the south of theCaelian Hill, it runs to the future track of theAurelian Walls.
Regio II encompassed theCaelian Hill.
Regio III took its name from the sanctuary ofIsis, in the area of the modern Labicana street, containing the valley that was to be the site of theColosseum, and parts of theOppian andEsquiline hills.
Regio IV took its name from theTemple of Peace, built in the region byVespasian. It includes the valley between the Esquiline and theViminal hills, the popular area of theSubura, and theVelian Hill (the hill between thePalatine and the Oppian Hill, removed in the early 20th century to make way for theVia dei Fori Imperiali, the street passing between theForum Romanum and theForum of Augustus).
The name of Regio V derives from theEsquiline Hill. It contains parts of the Oppian and Cispian (two minor hills close to the city center) and of the Esquiline, plus the plain just outside theServian Wall.
The name of Regio VI derives from the street (Alta Semita, "High Path") passing over theQuirinal Hill. It was a largeregio that encompassed also theViminal Hill, the lower slopes of thePincian, and the valleys between these. Its major landmarks included theBaths of Diocletian, theBaths of Constantine, and theGardens of Sallust;gardens(horti) covered much of its northern part. Temples toQuirinus,Salus, andFlora were also located in Regio VI, and theCastra Praetoria. TheAurelian Walls marked most of its eastern and northern edge, with theArgiletum andVicus Patricius on the south and southeast.[4]
The name of Regio VII was derived from thevia Flaminia, which runs between theServian Wall and the futureAurelian Walls. This was a wide urban street (Via Lata, "Broadway"), corresponding to the modernvia del Corso. Theregio contained part of theCampus Martius on the east of the street plus theCollis Hortulorum (Hill of the Hortuli), thePincian Hill (modern Pincio).
The central region contains theCapitoline Hill, the valley between the Palatine and the Capitoline hills (where theForum Romanum is located), and the area betweenVelian Hill and the Palatine up to theArch of Titus and theTemple of Venus and Roma.
The name derives fromthe racecourse located in the southern end of theCampus Martius, close toTiber Island. The region contains part of the Campus Martius, on the west side ofvia Lata.
ThePalatine Hill gave its name to Regio X.[5]
Regio XI took its name from theCircus Maximus, located in the valley between the Palatine and theAventine. It contained theCircus Maximus, theVelabrum (the valley between the Palatine and Capitoline), as well as the areas next to theForum Boarium and theForum Holitorium.
Regio XII took its name from thePiscina Publica, a monument that disappeared during the Empire. It had the high ground where the church ofSan Saba is at present, plus its ramifications towards theAppian Way, where theBaths of Caracalla were.
In the 180s, a bank and exchange forChristians operated in the area.[6]
Regio XIII contained theAventine Hill and the plain in front of it, along the Tiber.[7] Here was theemporium, the first port on the river.
Regio XIV (the region "across the Tiber") containedTiber Island and all the parts of Rome west beyond the Tiber.[8] This is modernTrastevere.
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