The First One Thousand Years of the Eternal City Quiz

Answer: Vatican Obelisk

Also called "Caligula's obelisk", little is known about the monument since it lacks any hieroglyphs indicating either the pharaoh or date it was commissioned, or for what purpose. It is also called "Caligula's obelisk" because it was brought to Rome from Alexandria, Egypt by the emperor Caligula in 38 A.D.

Answer: Circus Maximus

The Circus Maximus was first built during the reigns of the last Etruscan kings of Rome sometime during the sixth century BC. Over the centuries it was rebuilt and refurbished, eventually measuring 621 meters by 118 meters, and is believed to have held up to 150,000 spectators. Very little of the Circus Maximus remains today, but the site is now a park in Rome.

Answer: Roman Forum

The Forum Romanum, or Roman Forum is another structure that was first constructed during the Etruscan period. Over the centuries, dozens of statues, arches, and numerous other buildings were built around the Forum, including the building used by the Senate.

Answer: Constantine I

The surviving pieces of the statue now reside in the Palazzo dei Conservatori of the Capitoline Museum. It is believed the statue was 40 feet tall and made of bronze and marble. None of the bronze remains, and interestingly there were two right hands found with the pieces of the statue.

Answer: True

In 1823, a fire destroyed the basilica. A new basilica was subsequently built in the same location, and was consecrated in 1854 by Pope Pius IX. This new basilica was built to be an exact reproduction of the original, using what survived the fire as a guide. Donations of construction materials were gifted throughout the world to aid the reconstruction efforts.

Answer: Pantheon

The date the Pantheon was constructed isn't known, but it is believed to have been dedicated by Emperor Hadrian around 125 AD. It was probably built on top of an earlier temple that was destroyed by fire. It has been in continuous use since its dedication, and has been a Catholic church since the early 600s AD.

Answer: True

These walls were Rome's primary defensive structure until the Italian army captured Rome in 1870, conquering the last stronghold in the former Papal States. It wouldn't be until 1929 that the Pope agreed to recognize Italy's claim to Rome and the rest of the formal Papal States. In turn, he was given control of Vatican City.

Answer: Castel Sant'Angelo

Hadrian's mausoleum was turned into a fortress in the early 400s, but was ransacked by invading barbarians several times throughout the 5th and 6th centuries. During the 1300s, many popes turned what remained into a castle and prison, which wasn't decommissioned until the beginning of the 20th century.

Answer: House of the Vestal Virgins

The House of the Vestal Virgins was rebuilt several times over the course of the Roman Empire. The final version is believed to have been three stories high and contain 50 rooms. The Vestal Virgins were responsible for maintaining a sacred fire that was never allowed to go out.

In 394 AD, upon the official conversion to Christianity, the sacred fire was extinguished and the Vestal Virgins dismissed.

Answer: Old St. Peter's Basilica

Construction began around 320 AD and was completed around 360 AD. It stood for nearly 1,000 years before it was demolished in order to build the current St. Peter's Basilica. The old basilica was the location of the crowning of Charlemagne as Holy Roman Emperor in 800 AD.