Tales Of The Hills Trivia Quiz

Answer: Lupercal

Remus and Romulus were the twin sons of the vestal virgin, Rhea Silvia, and the god Mars, and grandsons of the rightful king of Alba Longa, Numitor, who had been overthrown by his brother, Amulius. Feeling threatened by the boys, their uncle ordered that they be abandoned on the banks of the Tiber River, which was at flood stage. Instead of drowning, the boys were found in the cave called the Lupercal by Lupa, a mother wolf, who took care of them until they were discovered by a shepherd. It was on the Palatine Hill where Romulus would built a new city and become the first legendary king of Rome. Roman priests later performed religious rites on the Palatine Hill, and the Lupercal was the focal point for the annual celebration called the Lupercalia, held on February 15 to cleanse the city and keep evil spirits away.

In 2007 archaeologists found what is believed by some to have been the cave where the Lupercalia was celebrated.

Answer: Hercules

Caeus was a fire-breathing giant who lived in a cave on the Palatine Hill. He existed by eating human flesh; not only that, but he decorated the outside of his cave with his victims' severed heads. After Hercules stole cattle from Geryon, he fell asleep near the cave of Caeus, which allowed the giant to steal some of his ill-gotten gains.

In the fight that ensued over the cattle, it is said that Hercules hit Caeus so hard with his club that it caused the rock to break apart. Later Romans built a stairway where they believed this happened.

Answer: Augustus

The frugal habits of Emperor Augustus are well known. The historian Suetonius wrote that his home was "a modest dwelling remarkable neither for size or elegance ...." After becoming emperor he bought an existing house on the Palatine; although it was simple, consisting of only two stories, he did hire artists to paint murals on the walls. Near the House of Augustus there is another structure that is commonly called the House of Livia.

It is, however, uncertain if the structure actually was occupied by the wife of Augustus, although an inscription of her name was found on a clay pipe there.

Answer: Circus Maximus

The Circus Maximus was originally laid out at the foot of the Palatine Hill, situated in the valley between the Palatine and Aventine Hills. Lucius Tarquinius Priscus had the circus constructed for the "ludi", or public games that were part of Roman religious festivals. Typically sponsored by wealthy ancient Romans, the duration of these games varied, but many different events, including musical and dramatic programs, chariot racing, gladiator fighting, and triumphant processions were held there.

After the construction of the Colosseum, the Circus Maximus was mainly used for foot races and chariot races. It eventually was expanded to hold 250,000 spectators. Emperor Domitian built a huge complex, commonly called the Flavian Palace, on the Palatine Hill from which it is said that he could watch the games without mingling with the common crowd.

Answer: Covered Passageway

Caligula's brief reign (37-41 AD) was characterized by actions which have caused many to believe that he was insane. He is siad to have planned to make his horse, Incitatus, a consul, and, after ordering his troops to collect seashells on the shores of Britannia, he claimed that he had conquered the region. Ancient historians wrote that he had incestuous relationships with his sisters, and sold them to other men as well.

He ordered that a statue of himself be placed in the Temple of Jerusalem for worship; the list of transgressions goes on and on. Eventually he was assassinated by members of his own Praetorian Guard, senators, and others, who really had wanted to restore the Republican form of government in Rome.

The assassination took place, according to Suetonius, in what is commonly called the Cryptoporticus of Caligula, an underground passageway that connected the complex of the House of Augustus to a small wooden amphitheater where he had been watching the "Ludi Palatina", annual plays held to honor Augustus.

After his assassination it was written that his body was taken to a nearby garden, burned, and buried. Apparently Caligula's ghost haunted the area for years after.

Answer: True

Living on the Palatine Hill was certainly prestigious, the view was lovely, and, going back to the time of Romulus, was seen as a safe haven. The Romans believed, however, that the air was cleaner there than at the foot of the hill where many of Rome's impoverished people lived. They believed that the clean air on the top of the hill would protect them from contracting contagious diseases that plagued the poor.

Etymologically, the word "palace" is from the Old French word that is derived from the name Palatine Hill. The word "palatine" is also obtained from the name, for someone who has been given the king's authority; in addition, the term "paladin", used for the renowned knights of Charlemagne, is taken from the name of the ancient hill.

Answer: Cybele

The worship of the "Magna Mater", or "Great Mother", is believed to have originated in Phrygia, which was located in present-day Turkey. From there the belief spread to the Greeks, who connected it with the worship of their goddess, Rhea. The Romans recognized Cybele's similarity to several of their goddess, including Ceres, and her cult was considered to be one of the most important throughout the Roman Empire.

The temple on the Palatine Hill was dedicated in 191 BC, and was the center of a annual festival held to honor the goddess from April 4-10. Religious plays or other entertainments, as well as feasts and chariot races marked the occasion, which was called the Megalesia.

It is believed that the temple was burned at least three times in its history, having been rebuilt and expanded twice during the reign of Augustus alone.

In 394 AD Emperor Theodosius ordered that, as a pagan place of worship, it should be destroyed.

Answer: False

Historians have suspected for centuries that Nero had the fires set on purpose to make way for more building projects. While he continued to reside in his palace on the Quirinal Hill, his "Domus Aurea", or "Golden House" was built as a pleasure palace. Consisting of 300 rooms, the palace had no sleeping quarters, latrines, or kitchens. One of the first examples of use of "opus caementicium", or Roman concrete, the place was decorated with mosaics, not only on the floor, but also on the ceilings.

It was written that every part of the Golden House that was not otherwise decorated was covered with murals; gold leaf, ivory, and stucco with embedded jewels also adorned the rooms. An embarrassment to his successors, the dismantlement of the Golden House was begun shortly after Nero's death. Within forty years the palace and the gardens were filled in and other buildings were built on top.

The murals were preserved and rediscovered in the late 1600s. Think about the effect their discovery had on Renaissance artists! Michelangelo and Raphael are both said to have crawled into the ruins to study them, and left their names on the walls!

Answer: Bath

Septimius Severus, who was born in Africa, built an enormous complex on the Palatine Hill, which was no small feat, considering that there wasn't much space left there by the time he became emperor! Facing the Appian Way was a structure known as the Septizodium; apparently the emperor took the idea for this type of building from his native Africa, and built it to impress Africans who traveled to Rome.

His "thermae", or baths, were fed with water from the Aqua Claudia, which was located between the Palatine Hill and the Caelian Hill.

They included hot, cold, and warm water bathing, as well as areas for exercise and eating, among others. Septimius Severus also began construction of an enormous public bath, which was completed by his son, Caracalla.

These baths remained in use for over 300 years.

Answer: Farnese Garden

In 1550 Cardinal Alessandro Farnese, a grandson of Pope Paul III, acquired land on the Palatine Hill that had long been in disrepair. He had the ruins of the palace of Tiberius filled in and built a summer home there along with a garden. The garden, arranged in terraces, was designed in the classical style with a fountain in the center. Decorated with sculptures, walkways, and aviaries, the garden, mostly a ruin today, contained many rare plants.