Umbilicus urbis Romae

Plate marking the Umbilicus Urbi

The Umbilicus Urbis Romae (Classical Latin: [ʊmbɪˈliːkʊs ˈʊrbɪs ˈroːmaj])—"Navel of the City of Rome"—was the symbolic centre of the city from which, and to which, all distances in Ancient Rome were measured. It was situated in the Roman Forum where its remnants can still be seen. These remains are located beside the Arch of Septimius Severus and the Vulcanal, behind the Rostra. Originally covered in marble, the Umbilicus is now a forlorn-looking brick core some 2 metres high and 4.45 metres in diameter.

History

Roman legend related that Romulus, when he founded the city, had a circular pit dug in the Forum. The first fruits of the year were thrown into this pit as a sacrifice and all new citizens of Rome had to throw in a handful of dirt from their place of origin.

The Mundus (Latin, “world”), known only from literary sources, was an underground structure considered a gate to the underworld. It may be that the Umbilicus Urbis Romae was the external (above ground) part of the subterranean Mundus. The Mundus was ritually opened only three times each year. These days were considered dies nefasti—days on which official transactions were forbidden on religious grounds—because evil spirits of the underworld were thought to escape then.

The original masonry Umbilicus was probably constructed in the 2nd century BC. The existing ruins, however, are from the time of the Emperor Septimius Severus. The construction of his triumphal arch in 203 AD encroached upon the ancient Umbilicus, which was recreated to allow more space. Fragments of the older monument were used in the new one.

The Umbilicus is believed to be a separate structure from the Milliarium Aureum, which was built nearby by Augustus (c. 20 BC) and served much the same purpose for distance reference.

Entrance to the brick structure

Roman Forum

basilicas of Roman Forum	Basilica Aemilia Basilica Julia Basilica of Maxentius

Arches of Roman Forum‎	Arch of Tiberius Arch of Titus Arch of Septimius Severus Arch of Constantine Arch of Augustus

Column of Roman Forum‎	Column Maenia Column of Phocas Milliarium Aureum

Temples of Roman Forum	Temple of Antoninus and Faustina Temple of Divus Augustus Temple of Concord Temple of Castor and Pollux Temple of Caesar Temple of Janus (Roman Forum) Temple of Jupiter Stator (8th century BC) Temple of Saturn Shrine of Venus Cloacina Temple of Venus and Roma Temple of Vespasian and Titus Temple of Vesta

Other	List of monuments of the Roman Forum House of the Vestals Mamertine Prison Cloaca Maxima Comitium Curia Curia Hostilia Curia Julia Ficus Ruminalis Lacus Juturnae Lacus Curtius Lapis Niger Portico Dii Consentes Regia Rostra Gemonian stairs Tabularium Umbilicus urbis Romae Velian Hill Via Sacra Vicus Jugarius Vicus Tuscus Vulcanal

Umbilicus urbis Romae

History

See also