Rome Wasn't Built in a Day Quiz | World Sites

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. This area in the center of Rome had its beginnings as far back as the 7th century BC when the marshy land between the Palatine and Capitoline Hills was drained, allowing for a common meeting area between them. The remains of many structures can still be seen there today. What is it called?

Answer: Forum Romanum

Tradition has it that Romulus (the first king of Rome) was occupying the Palatine Hill while Titus Tatius controlled the Capitoline Hill (less than half a kilometer away). The two rivals came to a peace settlement, and chose to utilize the space between the two hills as a common ground. Until the Cloaca Maxima (sewer system) drained the marshy southern part of the valley, only the northern portion was used and built upon. It became the location of the Comitium, or public meeting place.

The greater Forum Romanum as it stands in the 21st century still has remnants of multiple temples, arches and columns.

2. This site for chariot racing is located between the Palatine and Aventine Hills in the Valley of Murcia. Livy's history of Rome states that Lucius Tarquinius Priscus (the 5th King of Rome) built the first raised, wooden seating for spectators during his reign. By what name was it known?

Answer: Circus Maximus

The Circus Maximus went through many changes over the centuries that it was in use. Priscus' stands were first built circa 600 BC (he reigned from 616 - 579 BC), and until the 329 BC there was not much more. At that time, permanent wooden starting stalls were constructed. Stone seating was added circa 190 BC, exclusively for the use of senators. During Julius Caesar's reign, he extended the seating so that it would wrap around the entire track, with an estimated seating capacity of between 150,000 and 250,000.

Other cosmetic additions were made, and structures were replaced after fire damage on more than one occasion, but the Circus Maximus lasted until after the 6th century (AD), at which point its stonework was pillaged for use elsewhere. The original track surface now lies approximately six meters below the current ground level, and the area is used as a park.

3. The Colosseum's construction began in AD 70, took ten years to complete, and was the largest amphitheatre in the entire empire. By what other name was it known, in honour of the ruling dynasty (Vespasian, Titus, and Domitian) that constructed it?

Answer: Amphitheatrum Flavium

The Flavian dynasty began with Vespasian (Titus Flavius Caesar Vespasianus Augustus), who took power in AD 69. He began the construction of the Colosseum the following year, but did not complete it before his death in AD 79. His eldest son, Titus (Titus Flavius Caesar Vespasianus Augustus), completed the Colosseum during his short (AD 79-81) reign, and then cosmetic additions were made during the reign of Vespasian's younger son Domitius (Titus Flavius Caesar Domitianus Augustus) (AD 81-96).

The Colosseum could hold between 50,000 and 80,000 spectators, and was used for gladitorial fights, dramas, and many other types of public shows. For the inauguration of the Colosseum, 9,000 animals were killed during the show.

4. A temple to honour all the Roman gods was first built in by Marcus Agrippa 27 BC, but it burned down. In AD 80 Domitian built another, but it, too, burned down. Emperor Hadrian built the next in AD 126, and it is still standing today, although it is now a Catholic church. What building?

Answer: Pantheon

The inscription on the facade of the Pantheon reads, "M�AGRIPPA�L�F�COS�TERTIVM�FECIT", which translates as "Marcus Agrippa, son of Lucius, made [this building] when consul for the third time" (Source: Wikipedia). Hadrian actually had this third edition of the Pantheon built, but he used the still-existing facade from Marcus Agrippa's first Pantheon when he did so.

The Pantheon has been in continuous use since its construction, unlike the majority of its contemporary structures. Since the 7th century it has been a Catholic church when Byzantine Emperor Phocas gifted the building to Pope Boniface IV (AD 609).

A marvel of construction for its day, the dome of the Pantheon (obviously not visible in this picture) remains the world's largest unreinforced concrete dome, with both a height and a circumference of 43.2 metres.

5. Castel Sant'Angelo has stood since its completion in 139 AD, having served many purposes in its nearly two millennium existence. Before it was turned to military purposes, however, it was designed to be a mausoleum. For whom?

Answer: Hadrian

Originally built by Emperor Hadrian for himself and his family, the mausoleum became the resting place for Hadrian and every subsequent emperor until the year AD 217, when Caracalla was the last interred there.

In the year AD 401, the mausoleum was converted into a fortress and made a part of the outer defensive wall of Rome. The name Castel Sant'Angelo was not conferred upon the structure until a legend arose of a sighting of the Archangel Michael at the end of the plague of AD 590.

In the 1300s, the fortress was given another makeover, being converted into a proper castle and taken for the use of the papacy. Since the beginning of the 20th century, this beautiful building has been used as a museum.

6. Named for the Roman Empire's 22nd emperor, the baths pictured here were the second largest constructed in Rome. Built between AD 212 and 216, for whom were they named?

Answer: Caracalla

When Romans built their baths, they were no simple affairs, but rather were akin to entertainment complexes. The Baths of Caracalla consisted of multiple buildings, including a library (two rooms: one for Greek writings, and one for Latin). A cold room (frigidarium), a medium room with two pools (tepidarium), a hot room (caldarium), and a swimming pool (natatium) rounded out the waterworks, while there still remained two palaestras (gyms) for wrestling and boxing.

And let's not forget the shops along the north wall.

Despite damage over the years (various sackings of Rome, etc.), the baths were still in use up to the 1800s. Since then, the grounds have become a tourist attraction, and the venue is used for concerts as well.

7. This triumphal arch was erected to celebrate the defeat of Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge after an extended civil war. Who was the victor, who is also known for calling the First Council of Nicaea in AD 325?

Answer: Constantine the Great

The Arch of Constantine can be found between the Palatine Hill and the Colosseum. The Battle of Milvian Bridge happened in AD 312, and during the battle, Constantine's rival (Maxentius) drowned in the Tiber. Shortly after this battle, Constantine became the sole emperor of both the Eastern and Western Roman Empires.

The arch was dedicated three years after the battle, in AD 315. The main inscription on the arch is as follows:

"IMP � CAES � FL � CONSTANTINO � MAXIMO � P � F � AVGUSTO � S � P � Q � R � QVOD � INSTINCTV � DIVINITATIS � MENTIS � MAGNITVDINE � CVM � EXERCITV � SVO � TAM � DE � TYRANNO � QVAM � DE � OMNI � EIVS � FACTIONE � VNO � TEMPORE � IVSTIS � REMPVBLICAM � VLTVS � EST � ARMIS � ARCVM � TRIVMPHIS � INSIGNEM � DICAVIT"

This translates as "To the Emperor Caesar Flavius Constantinus, the greatest, pious, and blessed Augustus: because he, inspired by the divine, and by the greatness of his mind, has delivered the state from the tyrant and all of his followers at the same time, with his army and just force of arms, the Senate and People of Rome have dedicated this arch, decorated with triumphs." (Source: Wikipedia)

8. The Scalinata della Trinit� dei Monti are a wide staircase extending down from the church of the Santissima Trinit� dei Monti a grand total of 136 steps to which piazza?

Answer: Piazza di Spagna

It is interesting to note that in English, the staircase is called the 'Spanish Steps', carrying the name of the Piazza di Spagna (Spanish Square) at the bottom, while in Italian, the steps are known as the Scalinata della Trinit� dei Monti, taking the name of the church at the top of the stairs.

The steps themselves were built between the years 1723 and 1725, designed by architects Francesco de Sanctis and Alessandro Specchi.

9. The famous Fontana di Trevi was designed by Nicola Salvi and took thirty years to complete. The name 'Trevi' refers to the fountain's location at the junction of three roads.

Answer: True

The Fontana di Trevi can be found in the Trevi district of Rome, so named because of the three streets that all met at the Piazza dei Crociferi, found next to the modern Trevi Square.

Nicola Salvi began this masterpiece in 1732, but was not able to see its completion when he died in 1751. It was finished in 1762 through the additional work of Pietro Bracci, whose 'Oceanus' (god of all water) makes the centerpiece.

10. After decades of insurrections and wars of independence, the modern state of Italy was born in the mid-19th century. This gigantic monument was built in honour of the first king of the newly unified country. What was his name?

Answer: Vittorio Emanuele II

Prior to taking the reins as the king of the newly unified Italy, Vittorio Emanuele II was the King of Sardinia (1849-1861). He served as the King of Italy from 1861 until his death in 1878. The monument was designed in 1885 by Giuseppe Sacconi, but was not completed until 1925.

Despite its grandeur, the construction of the monument was not without controversy. This was due primarily to the location chosen to build it, as the construction required the destruction of a portion of the Capitoline Hill and a Medieval-era neighbourhood.

Source: Author reedy

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor stedman before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Rome Wasn't Built in a Day Trivia Quiz

The mythology surrounding the origins of Rome extend back to the 8th century B.C., so with nearly 3000 years of history to bring us to the present, you can rest assured that Rome certainly wasn't built in a day.

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