Mausoleo di Augusto (Augustus’ Tomb)

The tomb of the emperor Augustus in Rome, Italy

Mausoleo di Augusto (Augustus’ Tomb)
Lungotevere in Augusta/Piazza Augusto Imperatore
tel. +39-06-0608 or +39-06-6710-3819
Open by appointment (and rarely)

Tours that visit the Tomb of Augustus
• Context: Architecture of Rome (no site entry)
• Rome Hop-on Hop-off Double Decker Bus Tour (no site entry)

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The Mausoleum of AugustusThe Mausoleum of Augustus (Photo by Hautala)Directly across from the museum housing Augustus' Ara Pacis altar, in one of Rome's most hideous, Fascist-designed piazze, lie the rotund brick remains of the tomb of Augustus himself.

The Mausoleum of Augustus once housed the remains of Rome's first emperor—born Octavian Thurinus, adopted by Julius Caesar, starting his rule officially in 31 BC, and dying, as Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus, in AD 14. The mausoleum also contained the remains of his family, his general Agrippa, and every Roman emperor up to Nerva (who died AD 98).

Sadly, invading barbarians during the fall of Rome sacked the tomb, took the fabulous urns containing the family's remains, and unceremoniously dumped the imperial ashes onto the floor to make off with the urns as booty. (So I guess, technically, some bits of Augustus and his family probably still are in here, just ground deeply into the centuries of dirt on the floor.)

This ring of brick 287 feet in diameter was once crowned with a dirt mound and cypress trees, but has been so abused throughout the centuries—in the Middle Ages it was a fortress, then became an amphitheater in the baroque era for cockfights and bear baiting, and finally was used as a concert hall until 1936—that we're lucky the body survives with a few plaques of the old marble cladding still in place.

Home to a homeless shanty town and vast colony of cats in the 1980s, the ancient tomb is now being better excavated and restored. In years past, it has been open by appointment, but the present and future of this is uncertain. You can always try calling tel. 06-0608 or 06-6710-3819 and asking.

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This material was last updated April 2013. All information was accurate at the time.

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