Septizodium
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The Septizodium (also called Septizonium or Septicodium) was a building in ancient Rome. It was built in the year 203 AD by Emperor Septimius Severus. The origin of the name "Septizodium" is unclear; the Septicozium was probably named for the seven planetary deities 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. The Septizodium was located at the place where the Via Appia leads to the Palatine.
In August 1241, after the death of Pope Gregory IX, the 10 cardinals who were able to get into Rome through the lines of Emperor Frederick II's army, come together in the ramshackle palace of the Septizodium. The 2-months long conclave was arduous, not only because of the deep political crisis but the physical hardships. There was a frightful heat and the rain leaked through the roof of the chamber of the cardinals, mingled with the urine of Matteo Orsini's guards on the rooftiles (Abulafia 1988, p 350). One of the cardinals fell ill and died. The new pope, Celestine IV was also very worn out, and died after 16 days of his election.
In 1588, under the reign of Pope Sixtus V, the eastern facade of the building was demolished; no trace of it remains today.
[edit] Sources
- Theodor Dombart: Das palatinische Septizonium zu Rom. Beck, München 1922
- Karl Hampe: Ein ungedruckter Bericht über das Konklave von 1241 im römischen Septizonium. (= Sitzungsberichte der Heidelberger Akademie der Wissenschaften, Philosophisch-Historische Klasse; Jg. 1913, Abh. 1). Winter, Heidelberg 1913
- Christian Hülsen: Das Septizonium des Septimus Severus. 46. Programm zum Winkelmannsfeste der Archäologischen Gesellschaft zu Berlin, 1886, S. 1-36
