Geographical heart of Rome, Italy, within the walls of the city For the film starring Mario Lanza, see Seven Hills of Rome (film). Schematic map of Rome showing the seven hills The seven hills of Rome (Latin: Septem colles/montes Romae, Italian: Sette colli di Roma [ˈsɛtte ˈkɔlli di ˈroːma]) east of the river Tiber form the geographical heart of Rome, within the walls of the city. ## Hills[edit] The seven hills are:[1] * Aventine Hill (Latin: Collis Aventinus; Italian: Aventino) * Caelian Hill (Collis Caelius, originally the Mons Querquetulanus; Celio) * Capitoline Hill (Mons Capitolinus; Campidoglio) * Esquiline Hill (Collis Esquilinus; Esquilino) * Palatine Hill (Collis or Mons Palatinus; Palatino) * Quirinal Hill (Collis Quirinalis; Quirinale) * Viminal Hill (Collis Viminalis; Viminale) The Vatican Hill (Latin Collis Vaticanus) lying northwest of the Tiber, the Pincian Hill (Mons Pincius), lying to the north, the Janiculan Hill (Latin Janiculum), lying to the west, and the Sacred Mount (Latin Mons Sacer), lying to the northeast, are not counted among the traditional Seven Hills, being outside the boundaries of the most ancient part of Rome. Separate also are the seven hills associated with the Septimontium, a proto-urban festival celebrated by the residents of the seven communities associated with the hills or peaks of Rome. These were the Oppius, Palatium, Velia, Fagutal, Cermalus, Caelius, and Cispius.[2] These are sometimes confused with the traditional seven hills. ## History[edit] Tradition holds that Romulus and Remus founded the original city on the Palatine Hill on 21 April 753 BC, and that the seven hills were first occupied by small settlements that were not grouped. The seven hills' denizens began to interact, which began to bond the groups. The city of Rome, thus, came into being as these separate settlements acted as a group, draining the marshy valleys between them and turning them into markets (fora in Latin). Later, in the early 4th century BC, the Servian Walls were constructed to protect the seven hills.[3] In modern Rome, five of the seven hills—the Aventine, Caelian, Esquiline, Quirinal, and Viminal Hills—are now the sites of monuments, buildings, and parks. The Capitoline Hill is the location of Rome's city hall, and the Palatine Hill is part of the main archaeological area. A smaller area was covered by the seven peaks associated with the festival of the Septimontium: the Cispian Hill (Cispius Mons), Oppian Hill (Oppius Mons), and Fagutal Hill (Fagutalis Mons), three spurs of the Esquiline Hill, along with the Palatium and Cermalus, the peaks of the Palatine Hill, the Velian Hill, a ridge joining the Palatine and Oppian Hills, and the Caelian Hill. ### Other cities with seven hills[edit] Main article: List of cities claimed to be built on seven hills Sheffield, Istanbul, Lisbon, Providence and the Massachusetts cities of Worcester,[4] Somerville,[5] and Newton[6] are also said[by whom?] to have been built on seven hills, following the example of Rome. ## In the New Testament[edit] In the Book of Revelation, the Whore of Babylon sits on "seven mountains",[7][8] typically understood by Protestants as the seven hills of Rome and a reference to the Catholic Church (which is based in Rome).[9][10][11][12][13] ## In modern literature[edit] In a 2019 interview Lindsey Davis revealed her plan to set a series of books on the seven hills of Rome, now accomplished with the publication of A Capitol Death, seventh in the Flavia Albia series which began with The Ides of April, set on the Aventine Hill.[14] ## See also[edit] Other Roman hills * Mons Sacer * Monte Mario * Oppian Hill (Oppio) * Velian Hill (Velia) * Pincian Hill * Monte Testaccio, an artificial hill composed primarily of broken amphorae * Janiculan Hill (Gianicolo) General * Seven hills ## References[edit] 1. ^ Heiken, Grant; Funiciello, Renato; de Rita, Donatella (24 October 2013). "Chapter 11: Field Trips in and Around Rome". The Seven Hills of Rome: A Geological Tour of the Eternal City. Princeton University Press. p. 174\. ISBN 9780691130385. Retrieved 14 February 2019. 2. ^ Classical Philology. University of Chicago Press. 1906. pp. 71–. 3. ^ "The Seven Hills of Rome", Italy Magazine italymagazine.com, accessed 14 February 2019 4. ^ Barnes, George. "Like Rome, Worcester has its 7 hills". telegram.com. Retrieved 9 February 2021. 5. ^ "Hills of Somerville, Mass". Retrieved 23 October 2020. 6. ^ Smith, Samuel Francis (1880). History of Newton, Massachusetts : town and city, from its earliest settlement to the present time, 1630-1880. UMass Amherst Libraries. Boston : American Logotype Co. 7. ^ Revelation 17:9 8. ^ the King James Version Bible—the New International Version Bible uses the words "seven hills" 9. ^ Wall, R. W. (1991). New International Biblical Commentary: Revelation (207). Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers. 10. ^ Bratcher, R. G., & Hatton, H. (1993). A Handbook on the Revelation to John. UBS handbook series; Helps for translators (248). New York: United Bible Societies. 11. ^ Davis, C. A. (2000). Revelation. The College Press NIV commentary (322). Joplin, Mo.: College Press Pub. 12. ^ Mounce, R. H. (1997). "The Book of Revelation." The New International Commentary on the New Testament (315). Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. 13. ^ Beckwith, Isbon T. The Apocalypse of John. New York: MacMillan, 1919; reprinted, Eugene: Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2001. 14. ^ "Lindsey Davis interview: A Capitol Death and the Flavia Albia series". Hodder & Stoughton. 2 April 2019. Retrieved 10 April 2019. * v * t * e Landmarks of Rome Walls and gates| * Aurelian Walls * Ardeatina * Asinaria * Latina * Maggiore * Metronia * Nomentana * Pia * Pinciana * Popolo * Portese * San Pancrazio * San Paolo * San Giovanni * San Sebastiano * Settimiana * Tiburtina * Leonine Wall * Cavalleggeri * Pertusa * Santo Spirito * Castra Praetoria * Janiculum Wall * Terreus Wall * Romuli Wall * Servian Wall * Caelimontana * Dolabella * Gallienus * Esquilina Ancient obelisks| * Lateran Obelisk * Flaminian Obelisk * Obelisk of Minerveo * Obelisk of Montecitorio Ancient Roman landmarks| | Triumphal arches| * Arch of Constantine * Arch of Dolabella * Arch of Drusus * Arch of Gallienus * Arch of Janus * Arch of Septimius Severus * Arch of Titus * Arcus Novus | Aqueducts| * Aqua Alexandrina * Aqua Anio Vetus * Aqua Claudia * Cloaca Maxima Public baths| * Baths of Agrippa * Baths of Caracalla * Baths of Diocletian * Baths of Nero * Baths of Trajan Religious| * Ara Pacis * Temple of Antoninus and Faustina * Temple of Apollo Palatinus * Temple of Apollo Sosianus * Temple of Hadrian * Temple of Hercules Victor * Temple of Janus * Temple of Minerva Medica * Temple of Portunus * Temple of Saturn * Temple of Vesta * House of the Vestals * Largo di Torre Argentina * Lupercal * Pantheon * Porta Maggiore Basilica Fora| * Roman Forum * Imperial fora * Forum of Augustus * Forum of Caesar * Forum of Nerva * Forum of Vespasian * Trajan's Forum * Forum Boarium * Forum Holitorium Civic| * Basilica Argentaria * Basilica Julia * Basilica of Junius Bassus * Basilica of Maxentius * Basilica of Neptune * Basilica Ulpia * Comitium * Curia Julia * Portico Dii Consentes * Porticus Octaviae * Tabularium Entertainment| * Circus Maximus * Circus of Maxentius * Circus of Nero * Colosseum * Ludus Magnus * Gardens of Maecenas * Gardens of Sallust * Stadium of Domitian * Theatre of Marcellus * Theatre of Pompey Palaces and villae| * Domus Augustana * Domus Aurea * Domus Transitoria * Flavian Palace * House of Augustus * Palace of Domitian * Villa Gordiani * Villa of Livia * Insula dell'Ara Coeli * Villa of the Quintilii * Villa of the sette bassi Column monuments| * Column of Antoninus Pius * Column of Marcus Aurelius * "Column of Phocas" * Trajan's Column * Five-Columns Monument Commerce| * Porticus Aemilia * Trajan's Market Tombs| * Casal Rotondo * Catacombs of Domitilla * Catacombs of Rome * Catacombs of San Sebastiano * Columbarium of Pomponius Hylas * Mausoleum of Augustus * Mausoleum of Helena * Mausoleum of Maxentius * Pyramid of Cestius * Tomb of Eurysaces the Baker * Tomb of Hilarus Fuscus * Tomb of the Haterii * Tomb of the Scipios * Tombs of Via Latina * Tomb of Priscilla * Vigna Randanini Bridges| * Pons Cestius * Pons Fabricius * Ponte Milvio * Ponte Sant'Angelo Roman Catholic Basilicas| * Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran * Basilica of Saint Mary Major * Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls * S. Lorenzo fuori le mura * S. Agnese fuori le mura * S. Agostino * S. Anastasia al Palatino * S. Andrea delle Fratte * S. Andrea della Valle * S. Antonio da Padova in Via Merulana * S. Apollinare alle Terme * Ss. Apostoli * S. Balbina * S. Bartolomeo all'Isola * Ss. Bonifacio ed Alessio * S. Camillo de Lellis * S. Carlo al Corso * S. Cecilia in Trastevere * Ss. Celso e Giuliano * S. Clemente * Ss. Cosma e Damiano * S. Crisogono * S. Croce in Via Flaminia * S. Croce in Gerusalemme * S. Eugenio * S. Eustachio * S. Francesca Romana * S. Giovanni a Porta Latina * S. Giovanni dei Fiorentini * Ss. Giovanni e Paolo * S. Lorenzo in Damaso * S. Lorenzo in Lucina * S. Maria Ausiliatrice * S. Marco * S. Maria degli Angeli * S. Maria in Montesanto * S. Maria in Cosmedin * S. Maria in Domnica * S. Maria in Aracoeli * S. Maria del Popolo * S. Maria sopra Minerva * S. Maria in Trastevere * S. Maria in Via * S. Maria in Via Lata * S. Maria della Vittoria * S. Martino ai Monti * Ss. Nereo e Achilleo * S. Nicola in Carcere * S. Pancrazio * Pantheon * S. Pietro in Vincoli * S. Prassede * S. Pudenziana * Ss. Quattro Coronati * S. Saba * S. Sabina * Sacro Cuore di Maria * Sacro Cuore di Cristo Re * Sacro Cuore di Gesù a Castro Pretorio * S. Sebastiano fuori le mura * S. Silvestro in Capite * S. Sisto Vecchio * S. Sofia a Via Boccea * S. Stefano Rotondo * S. Teresa * S. Vitale Other churches| * List of churches in Rome Castles and palaces| * Arx * Casa dei Cavalieri di Rodi * Castel Sant'Angelo * Domus Internationalis Paulus VI * Palazzo Aragona Gonzaga * Palazzo Barberini * Palazzo Borghese * Palazzo della Cancelleria * Palazzo Chigi * Palazzo Colonna * Palazzo della Consulta * Palazzo Farnese * Palazzo Fusconi-Pighini * Palazzo Giustinani * Lateran Palace * Palazzo Madama * Palazzo Malta * Palazzo di Giustizia * Palazzo Massimo alle Colonne * Palazzo Mattei * Palazzo del Quirinale * Palazzo Pamphilj * Palazzo Poli * Palazzo Riario * Palazzo Ruspoli * Palazzo Spada * Palazzo Valentini * Palazzo Vidoni-Caffarelli * Palazzo del Viminale * Palazzo Wedekind * Palazzo Zuccari * Villa Farnesina * Villa Giulia * Villa Madama Fountains| * Api * Acqua Felice * Acqua Paola * Babuino * Barcaccia * Il Facchino * Marforio * Moro * Nasone * Navicella * Neptune * Nettuno * del Pantheon * Pianto * di Piazza d'Aracoeli * di Piazza Colonna * di Piazza Farnese * della Piazza dei Quiriti * di Piazza Nicosia * in Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere * di Ponte Sisto * Quattro Fiumi * Quattro Fontane * Tartarughe * Trevi Fountain * Tritons * Tritone Other landmarks| * Altare della Patria (Tomb of the Unknown Soldier of Italy) * Campo Verano * Capocci Tower * Column of the Immaculate Conception * Conti Tower * Hospital of the Holy Spirit * Milizie Tower * Sisto Bridge * Spanish Steps Squares, streets and public spaces| * Appian Way * Campo de' Fiori * Clivus Capitolinus * Piazza Colonna * Piazza d'Aracoeli * Piazza del Popolo * Piazza della Minerva * Piazza della Repubblica * Piazza Farnese * Piazza Navona * Piazza di Spagna * Piazza Venezia * Via dei Coronari * Via del Corso * Via della Conciliazione * Via dei Fori Imperiali * Via Sacra * Via Veneto Parks, gardens and zoos| * Bioparco * Villa Ada * Villa Borghese gardens * Villa Doria Pamphili * Villa Medici * Villa Torlonia * Parco degli Acquedotti Museums and art galleries| * Boncompagni Ludovisi Decorative Art Museum * Capitoline Museums * Casa di Goethe * Doria Pamphilj Gallery * Galleria Borghese * Galleria Comunale d'Arte Moderna * Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica * Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna * Giorgio de Chirico House Museum * Galleria Spada * Jewish Museum of Rome * Keats–Shelley Memorial House * MAXXI * Museo Archeologico Ostiense * Museo Barracco di Scultura Antica * Museo Civico di Zoologia * Museo delle anime del Purgatorio * Museo delle Mura * Museo di Roma * Museo di Roma in Trastevere * Museo nazionale del Palazzo di Venezia * Museo Nazionale Etrusco * Museo Nazionale Romano * Museo Storico Nazionale dell'Arte Sanitaria * Museum of Contemporary Art of Rome * Museum of Roman Civilization * Museum of the Ara Pacis * Museum of the Liberation of Rome * National Museum of Oriental Art * Palazzo Colonna * Palazzo delle Esposizioni * Pigorini National Museum * Porta San Paolo Railway Museum * Santa Cecilia Musical Instruments Museum * Venanzo Crocetti Museum Art| * Apollo Belvedere * Augustus of Prima Porta * Colossus of Constantine * La Bocca della Verità * Laocoön and His Sons * Ludovisi Battle sarcophagus * Ecstasy of Saint Teresa * Portonaccio sarcophagus * Raphael Rooms * Sistine Chapel ceiling * Velletri Sarcophagus Landscape| | Seven Hills| * Aventine * Caelian * Capitoline * Esquiline * Palatine * Quirinal * Viminal | * Tiber Island * Monte Testaccio Metropolitan City of Rome Capital| * Appian Way Regional Park * Capo di Bove * Castello Orsini-Odescalchi * Frascati * Hadrian's Villa * Ostia Antica * Villa Aldobrandini * Villa d'Este * Villa Farnese Events and traditions| * Festa della Repubblica * Rome Quadriennale * Rome Film Festival Related| * Vatican City * St. Peter's Basilica * St. Peter's Square * Sistine Chapel * ceiling *[v]: View this template *[t]: Discuss this template *[e]: Edit this template