- UNESCO
- Free 1st Sunday
Photo: Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Archaeological site
Septizodium
Water fountain
- Within the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Historic Centre of Rome, the Properties of the Holy See in that City Enjoying Extraterritorial Rights and San Paolo Fuori le Mura”
At a glance
- Type
- Archaeological site
- Style
- Ancient Roman architecture
- Commissioned by
- Septimius Severus
- Coordinates
- 41°53′08″ N, 12°29′19″ E
About
The Septizodium (also called Septizonium, Septicodium, or Septisolium) was a building in ancient Rome. It was built in 203 AD by Emperor Septimius Severus.
The origin of the name "Septizodium" is from Septisolium, from the Latin for temple of seven suns, and was probably named for the seven planetary deities (Saturn, Sol, Luna, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, and Venus) or for the fact that it was originally divided into seven parts. The building had no known practical purpose and was probably meant to be a decorative façade, known as a nymphaeum. Ancient and medieval sources describe its purpose as being to impress Severus' fellow north Africans as they entered the city, as it was located at the place where the Via Appia passes the Palatine and leads east towards the Forum Romanum. Other examples of septizodia are known, all from Africa.
Text from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Full article: «Septizodium».
People
Events and people from Wikidata (CC0).
Photos
Getting there
Roma OstienseTrain, nearest
1.5 km as the crow flies
Septizodium
Aeroporto di Roma-Ciampino12.9 km
Distances are as the crow flies, not walking or driving.
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Nearby
See on the mapMore archaeological sites in Lazio
- Free 1st Sunday
- Free 1st Sunday
- UNESCO
Frequently asked questions
Where is Septizodium?
Septizodium is in Rome, in the province of Roma (Lazio), Italy. GPS coordinates: 41.88563, 12.48872.
What else is there to see near Septizodium?
Nearby you’ll find: Torre della Moletta (100 m away), Domus Severiana (100 m away), Temple of Honor and Virtue (200 m away).
Sources and licences
Text. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Data. Wikidata (CC0); opening hours and contacts OpenStreetMap (ODbL).
Photos. Wikimedia Commons, author and licence on every image.
Credits for the 9 photos
- Septiconium Luci Septimi Severi — Public domain
- 649 Casa Museu Benlliure (València), El Septizòdium de Sever, gravat de G.B. Pittoni — Enric, CC BY-SA 4.0
- SEPTIZODIUM Rome — Franck devedjian, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Settizonio di Settimio Severo, 1575 - Archivio Accademia delle Scienze Torino, Millon 48 14 040 — Étienne Dupérac, Public domain
- Settizonio di Settimio Severo, XVI secolo - Archivio Accademia delle Scienze Torino, Millon 48 14 017 — Étienne Dupérac, Public domain
- Speculum Romanae Magnificentiae- The Septizodium MET DP870379 — anonymous, CC0
- The Septizodium MET DP870368 — anonymous, CC0
- The Septizodium, view from Via di San Gregorio - Patrick Nouhailler - panoramio — Patrick Nouhailler's…, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Vestigi del Tempio di Faustina & Vestigj del settizonio di Severo Imperatore — MumblerJamie, CC BY-SA 2.0
Updated 28 October 2026. All sources and licences