The Rome IndexThe Roman emperors — who they were and where to find them
Augustus to Constantine — the rulers whose monuments you're actually visiting.
Augustus (27 BC – 14 AD)
Rome's first emperor transformed the city from brick to marble by his own account. The Forum of Augustus, the Ara Pacis, and the mausoleum he built near the Tiber are the most accessible remains. His house on the Palatine contains the finest surviving ancient Roman wall paintings.
Nero (54–68 AD)
The emperor who burned Rome — or didn't, depending on which ancient source you trust. His Golden House (Domus Aurea), buried after his death, was stumbled upon by Renaissance artists including Raphael who were lowered through holes in the ground to study its painted vaults. Domus Aurea is open for limited visits.
Trajan (98–117 AD)
Under Trajan the empire reached its maximum extent. Trajan's Column in the Forum of Trajan tells the story of his Dacian campaigns in 2,500 sculpted figures spiralling upward — one of the most ambitious narrative artworks from antiquity.
Constantine (306–337 AD)
The first Christian emperor, whose Arch stands beside the Colosseum. He moved the empire's capital to Constantinople, effectively ending Rome's role as the seat of imperial power — the beginning of the long process that would leave the city's population at a fraction of its former size.