Mapping efforts began with the Forma Urbis Romae, a massive marble map created under Emperor Septimius Severus between 203 and 211 CE and offering a detailed view of the city’s layout. Centuries later, Fascist Italy revived this ambition with Italo Gismondi’s Plastico di Roma Imperiale, a 1:250 scale plaster model celebrating imperial grandeur. In the 1980s, new archaeological discoveries and urban mapping projects further shaped our view of ancient Rome. One result was this highly precise map from 1985, on display to the right. Today, cutting-edge digital reconstructions-such as those by Yourscape and Flyover Zone-combine archaeological evidence with technology to bring the ancient city to life in virtual space.
Forma Urbis Romae
The Forma Urbis Romae, also known as the Severan Marble Plan, was a monumental map of ancient Rome created between 203 and 211 CE during the reign of Emperor Septimius Severus. Originally mounted on the wall of a grand aula within the Templum Pacis, this vast marble map measured approximately 18.10 by 13 meters (59.38 by 42.65 feet) and depicted the architectural layout of Rome in extraordinary detail. Carved at a scale of 1:240, it included the ground plans of public buildings, private residences, and temples, though it notably omitted natural and political boundaries. The map’s purpose remains a subject of scholarly debate. While some argue it was a cadastral tool for urban planning or land ownership, its scale, location, and artistic quality suggest it served as a decorative showcase of Rome’s grandeur. By the 5th century, the map began to suffer damage, and over time, its marble slabs were repurposed, leaving fragments that made up only 10-15% of the original work. Antiquarians began rediscovering the Forma Urbis Romae in the 16th century. Historians and archaeologists continue efforts today to reconstruct its fascinating fragments, providing valuable insights into the urban design and architecture of Imperial Rome. In 2024, a new museum dedicated to displaying the map, the Museo della Forma Urbis, opened in Rome’s Parco Archeologico del Celio.
Plastico di Roma Imperiale
The Plastico di Roma represents a landmark achievement in the history of mapping and visualizing the ancient city. Italo Gismondi initially completed and exhibited the work in 1937, then significantly expanded it until 1955 and revised it through 1971. He created a detailed 1:250 scale plaster model of fourth-century CE Rome using archaeological research and imaginative reconstruction. While historical evidence guided some elements, he designed many buildings as artistic interpretations to fill gaps in the archaeological record. Today, the model is housed at the Museo della Civiltà Romana in Rome (EUR). Commissioned during Italy’s Fascist period for the Mostra Augustea, an exhibition in honor of the 2000th anniversary of the birth of Emperor Augustus, the model aimed to glorify Rome’s imperial past and connect it to the current regime’s vision of modern urban planning. Over time, the Plastico di Roma Imperiale has become a critical tool for understanding the layout and grandeur of ancient Rome, while also serving as a reminder of how historical narratives can be shaped by contemporary ideologies.
Virtual Roma
The visualization of ancient Rome has evolved dramatically, with modern technology redefining how we explore the Eternal City. While Italo Gismondi’s Plastico di Roma Imperiale, a 20th-century plaster model of 4th-century CE Rome, gives a brilliant overview of the ancient city, one has to visit its location in the Museo della Civilt Romana in Rome to appreciate it fully. Today, thanks to cutting-edge digital reconstructions, the approach to mapping Rome has shifted to a focus on accessibility and interactivity. Beginning in 1974 when archaeologist Bernard Frischer first saw Italo Gismondi’s plaster model of the eternal city he began pondering the possibility of recreating Rome in a virtual format. Many years later, in November 2023, Flyover Zone unveiled a comprehensive digital model of ancient Rome, allowing users to immerse themselves in the city’s architecture and urban planning. Its platform, Yorescape, offers guided virtual tours, allowing anyone to traverse historic streets and monuments from anywhere in the world. These innovations preserve Rome’s rich history while democratizing access to its ancient wonders, ensuring that the Eternal City’s legacy continues to inspire future generations.