Porta Asinaria
External facade of the Porta Asinaria.
Porta Asinaria is located in Rome
Porta Asinaria
Porta Asinaria
Shown within Rome
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LocationRome
Coordinates41°53′8.4768″N 12°30′31.2552″E / 41.885688000°N 12.508682000°E / 41.885688000; 12.508682000
History
Founded271–275 AD
Facade from within the city walls

The Porta Asinaria is a gate in the Aurelian Walls of Rome.[1] Dominated by two protruding tower blocks and associated guard rooms, it was built between 271 and 275 AD, at the same time as the Wall itself. It was not rebuilt or fortified in the time of Honorius and not restored by Theoderic as most of the other gates.[2]

It is through this gate that East Roman troops under General Belisarius entered the city in 536, reclaiming the city for the Byzantine Empire from the Ostrogoths.

By the 16th century it had become overwhelmed by traffic. A new breach in the walls was made nearby to create the Porta San Giovanni. At this point, the Porta Asinaria was closed to traffic.

See also

Notes

References

  • Platner, Samuel Ball; Ashby, Thomas (1929). "A Topographical Dictionary of Ancient Rome.". London: Oxford University Press. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  • Parker, John Henry (1874). The archaeology of Rome. Retrieved 8 June 2022.

Further reading

  • Mauro Quercioli, Le mura e le porte di Roma. Newton Compton Ed., Rome, 1982
  • Laura G. Cozzi, Le porte di Roma. F.Spinosi Ed., Rome, 1968
  • Lucentini, M. The Rome Guide. Interlink books.
Preceded by
Porta Ardeatina		 Landmarks of Rome
Porta Asinaria		 Succeeded by
Porta Latina

This article contains text from Platner and Ashby's A Topographical Dictionary of Ancient Rome, a text now in the public domain.


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