Rome, Arch of Septimius Severus

On our first visit in Rome, from Rome’s city hall on Piazza del Campidoglio (designed by Michelangelo) on Capitol Hill, we walked down a long staircase toward the Roman Forum. At the bottom of the staircase the Arco di Settimio Severo (the Triumphal Arch of Septimus Severus — three arched passages, 75 feet high, 82 feet in breadth), marks the beginning of the Roman Forum. Built in 203 AD, an amazing amount of care and work was spent on design and on the detailed ornamentation — the underside of the arch is carved in intricate detail.

Tired from our long trek through the city, we sat on the steps and rested for a few minutes. We had to move out of the way as a group of people came out of a plain doorway in a solid, high building wall (in the building on the left of the photo) next to the stairs.

During subsequent trips to Rome we discovered that doorway was the exit from the Mamertine Prison, the State Prison, dating from 105 BC. It is recorded that both St. Peter and St. Paul were, at one time, imprisoned here. One reference states that St. Peter escaped from the Mamertine Prison, and fled the city along the Via Appia. Inside, the two-level building with ancient stone floors is an inspiring, but sad sight.
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