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the domitian stadium

The Domitian stadium, 275 meters long and 106 wide, was assigned by the Emperor to Graeco-Roman wrestling (indeed the ancient Romans didn’t love this kind of struggle). 

The palaces, the buildings and the two churches, that form the present square were erected on the ancient stadium’s stands.

You can see the remains of the stadium getting down into the underground of S. Agnese church, or looking through the buildings’ basements, in particular those which are in the underground of the concave palace overlooking Tor Sanguigna square. Here we discover that, under the ground floor, there were at least two more floors and every five arches a staircase joined the floors.

And now a second discovery: the Domitian Stadium was a multifunctional one, indeed not only it offered to its spectators the agonal games, but other opportunities too.
Plebians and VIP could find these opportunities in the Tabernae (taverns), where food and drink was sold, but also in brothels (exclusive or cheap). In the exclusive brothels on the walls, near the admission door, were painted representations of the workers’ skills and qualities. But the graffito design didn’t respect even this spot: obscene writings disfigure the walls.

Anyway this spot was regarded as an hazardous area, therefore the customers were minutely informed about venereal diseases, evidently represented by means of suitable drawings.

• Photo 1: restoration of the stadium

• Photo 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9: the undergrounds of the Stadium under the buildings overlooking Tor Sanguigna square

• Photo 6: the Pasquino statue (probably representing Menelao who supports Patroclo dying), close to Palazzo Braschi, coming from the stadium. Pasquino is one of the “talking statues of Rome”, known because, under the Papacy, the Roman people used to post up these talking statues irreverent papers. 

Click on the image to enlarge it
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