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The City of Rome under the Severans

The Severan dynasty began in 193 A.D. with Lucius Septimius Severus, and ended in 268 A.D. with the death of P. Licinius Egnatius Gallienus. During this period of time, Rome was the capital of an empire at its height. During the first three centuries A.D., the Severan dynasty improved Rome with many developments to befit its status. Rome was unwalled and confident in its security.

Rome was a beautiful city with all possible features. The Colosseum, the largest amphitheatre of the of the Roman world (able to seat some 50,000 spectators) lay near the Imperial Fora, from which the empire was managed. The Baths of Caracalla are some of the most famous ancient bathing establishments. Septimius Severus built a huge palace on the Palatine. Temples to deified emperors and mausolea could be found in various places. Rome was a resplendent capital of a powerful empire, and the Severan period was one of halcyon days. It was only afterwards that the decline of the empire began.