Rione X Campitelli in Roma in Città metropolitana di Roma Capitale, Latium, Rome, Italy — Central Italy (Tyrrhenian Coast)

Umbilicus Urbis / The Focus of the City

Photographed By James Hulse, June 14, 2023

1. Umbilicus Urbis / The focus of the city Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Indicato da alcune fonti anche come Mundus, era considerato il centro ideale della città (omphalos), secondo un concetto di origine greca; era anche il punto in cui il mondo dei vivi, attraverso una fenditura del terreno, era in contatto con il mondo sotterraneo. Si tratta di una costruzione rotonda in mattoni, con una piccola porta, riferibile ad un restauro di età severiana (inizio III sec. d.C.), che riutilizza elementi più antichi.

English:
Described in some sources as the Mundus, this was believed to be the symbolic centre of the city (omphalos), in accordance with a Greek concept; it was also the place where the world of the living came into contact with the underworld through a crack in the ground. It is a round brick structure with a small door, dating to restoration work in the Severan period (early 3rd century AD), reusing older materials.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Architecture.

Location. 41° 53.562′ N, 12° 29.073′

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E. Marker is in Roma, Lazio (Latium, Rome), in Città metropolitana di Roma Capitale. It is in Rione X Campitelli. Marker is on Via Sacra. The marker is located south of the Arch of Septimius Severus in the Roman Forum. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Roma, Lazio 00186, Italy. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Volcanal (here, next to this marker); L'Arco di Settimio Severo / The Arch of Septimius Severus (a few steps from this marker); Miliarium Aureum / Golden Milestone (a few steps from this marker); Veduta del Tempio Detto della Concordia / View of the So-called Temple of Concord (a few steps from this marker); Veduta del Tempio di Giove Tonante / View of the Temple of Jupiter Tonans (a few steps from this marker); Tempio di Saturno / Temple of Saturn (within shouting distance of this marker); Tempio della Concordia / Temple of Concord (within shouting distance of this marker); Veduta di Campo Vaccino / View of Campo Vaccino (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Roma.

More about this marker. The marker is located in the Parco Archeologico del Colosseo (Roman Forum Archaeological Park) and it does require an entry fee to visit.

Also see . . . Parco Archeologico del Colosseo. Roma Turismo (Submitted on August 25, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

The Umbilicus Urbis Marker is next to the Arch of Septimius Severus image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James Hulse, June 14, 2023

2. The Umbilicus Urbis Marker is next to the Arch of Septimius Severus

Credits. This page was last revised on August 25, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 25, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 62 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 25, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.