You can explore the tomb of the first Roman emperor, but most people walk right past it

Understanding the Mausoleum of Augustus necessitates a journey into the historical context of its creation.

Augustus, originally named Gaius Octavius, was Julius Caesar's adopted heir. Upon Julius Caesar's assassination in 44 BC, Octavian ascended to power after a period of political tumult and civil wars.

It was in 27 BC that the Senate officially granted him the title of 'Augustus,' which means 'the revered one'.

His reign marked the end of the Roman Republic and the beginning of the Roman Empire, ushering in an era of peace and prosperity, famously known as the Pax Romana.

During his reign, Augustus undertook massive architectural projects, changing the face of Rome.

According to the famous Roman biographer Suetonius, Augustus himself claimed, "I found Rome a city of bricks and left it a city of marble."

The Mausoleum was one of the most significant of these projects, its construction beginning around 28 BC after Augustus's return from Egypt.

He built the Mausoleum on the Campus Martius, a floodplain on the Tiber used for military training and public events, transforming it into Rome's monumental center.

Augustus was not just a political leader but also a strategic visionary who understood the power of architecture and public monuments in asserting and cementing authority.

This strategy was evident in the scale and grandeur of the Mausoleum, intended to be more than a mere resting place post-death.

The Mausoleum served as a potent symbol of the grandeur of Augustus's reign and a testament to his lineage.

The Mausoleum of Augustus reflects a blend of architectural innovation and cultural inspiration.

The structure, designed as a circular mound, was heavily influenced by Etruscan tumuli and Hellenistic funerary architecture, particularly the tomb of Alexander the Great.

This design was a divergence from the traditionally rectangular Roman public buildings, marking a new chapter in Roman architectural trends.

In terms of dimensions, the Mausoleum was an awe-inspiring structure, originally standing approximately 45 meters high with a diameter of approximately 90 meters.

It consisted of several concentric rings of earth and brick, culminating in a conical mound of earth planted with cypress trees at the top.

The outer wall was made of concrete and travertine, a form of limestone deposited by mineral springs.

This combination of materials displayed the innovative use of concrete that became a defining characteristic of Roman architecture.

The Mausoleum's interior featured two concentric corridors with a burial chamber in the center.

The corridors were lined with alcoves, likely intended to house the urns of other family members.

The central burial chamber, a place reserved for Augustus and his wife Livia, was isolated from the rest of the structure, signifying their unique status.

The entrance to the Mausoleum was an impressive bronze door, further adding to the monumental grandeur of the structure.

Surrounding the Mausoleum was a vast square precinct, bound by travertine walls. Within this precinct was a variety of statues and monuments celebrating Augustus's lineage and achievements, including the 'Res Gestae Divi Augusti', a record of his life and accomplishments.

The process of construction was likely labor-intensive, involving skilled architects, workers, and artists.

The Mausoleum's sheer size and the materials used indicate the high degree of planning and organization involved in its creation.

The strategic placement of the Mausoleum on the Campus Martius, the field of Mars, was also symbolic, aligning Augustus with Mars, the god of war and the legendary father of Rome's founders, Romulus and Remus.

Construction on the Mausoleum began in 28 BC, shortly after Augustus's return from Egypt.

Located on the Campus Martius, the project was part of Augustus's broader effort to beautify Rome and symbolize the new era of Pax Romana.

The Mausoleum was completed in 23 BC and served as the burial site for Augustus following his death in 14 AD, and later his family members and successors.

The Mausoleum remained an important funerary and commemorative monument throughout the Imperial period.

However, with the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century AD, it began to share Rome's declining fortune.

The decline of imperial patronage and changing cultural attitudes towards death and commemoration resulted in the neglect of the Mausoleum.

During the Middle Ages, the Mausoleum was repurposed as a fortress by the Colonna family, a powerful aristocratic clan in medieval Italy.

This adaptation ensured the survival of the structure but led to significant alterations and damage to the original design.

In the Renaissance period, the Mausoleum was transformed again, this time into a garden.

This repurposing mirrored the period's renewed interest in antiquity, but also led to further alterations to the structure.

Over time, the Mausoleum was further neglected, and by the 20th century, it was in a state of disrepair, serving variously as a concert hall and even a bullfighting ring.

The 20th and 21st centuries, however, witnessed a renewed interest in the preservation of ancient monuments.

The Mausoleum was declared a national monument by the Italian government in 1937.

Despite this, it took until the early 21st century for significant restoration efforts to begin.

After extensive work, the Mausoleum was finally reopened to the public in 2021, allowing visitors once again to marvel at this testament to Augustus's ambition and Rome's past grandeur.