PrimalX - Italian Galleries

MINTURNO (Minturnae)
Day Two - Feb 20, 2005

LATERAN OBELISK (Obelisco Lateranense) in Rome
The largest standing authentic obelisk in the world, there are only 30 standing Obelisks in the world. It is now in the Piazza di San Giovanni in Laterano, between the north door of St.John's basilica and the Lateran Palace. Made of red granite, it measures slightly over 32 metres (about 105 feet), reaching over 40 metres (about 135 feet) with the base, and weighs 230 tons. It originally stood in front of the Temple of Amon, in Thebes (or Karnak, in Egyptian), where pharaoh Thutmose III had it carved in the 15th century B.C. Over 1,700 years later, in 357 AD, emperor Constans II, son of Constantine the Great, wanted it as a decoration for the Circus Maximus, the largest chariot racing stadium of the city; and had a special ship made for bringing the monument to Rome.

Lateran Obelisk

Looking for this one in the books... it's right on the tip on my tongue... on our way from Rome to Minturno... ack!


Tyrrhenian Sea	Tyrrhenian Sea	Tyrrhenian Sea

M I N T U R N O (Minturnae)
Minturnae is the ancient town of Latium, Italy, 7 mi (11.3 km) East of Formia. Important because it controlled the bridge on the Appian Way over the Liris River (the ancient name of the Garigliano). It was founded by the Aurunci or Ausones and became a Roman colony in 295 B.C. North of modern Minturno. Important ruins: an aqueduct, two theaters, forums, a Roman bath. Recently discovered, it is still in the process of being excavated. Locally rumored to have been Julius Ceasar and Cleopatra's party town!

	Aqueducts	Aqueducts
Aqueducts	Modern Minturno	Aqueducts/ Modern Minturno	Tyrrhenian Sea
Garigliano River meets Tyrrhenian Sea (did Cleopatra's barge come into this inlet?)	Garigliano River meets Tyrrhenian Sea	Excavation Work Notice	Borbonico Bridge over the Garigliano (Ponte Borbonico sul Garigliano)
Borbonico Bridge Sphinx (right)	Borbonico Bridge Sphinx (left)	Borbonico Bridge Sphinx (both) PX Cover May 2005	Borbonico Bridge detail
Sphinx (right)	Minturnae Entrance	Borbonico Bridge	Map & Info
Storage Jugs	Storage Jugs	Outside Amphitheater	Walkway
Vine	Stage/Amphitheater	Fragment	Seats/Amphitheater
Stage/Amphitheater	Seats/Amphitheater	Site Overview	Arch Reassembly
Site Overview	Seats & Stage Amphitheater	Gutter	Fragments
Column Reconstruction in various stages	"Potholes" (cart ruts in original Roman road)	PX Cover May 2005	Walls
Arch Detail	Thermal Baths	Thermal Baths	Plumbing Detail
Mosaic Tile	Mosaic Tile	Mosaic Tile	Interior Details
Mosaic Tile	Mosaic Tile	Mosaic Tile	Mosaic Tile
Mosaic Tile	Interior Details	Interior Details	Entryway
Pillar Detail	Interior Details	Fragments	Pillar Remains
Fragments	Fragments	Buried Chamber	Mosaic Tile
Pillar Base	Interior Walls	Site Overview	Water Well ?
Buried Structure	Grinding Wheel	Fragment	Fragment
Fragments	Fragments	Fragments	Fragments

Fragment		Back of Amphitheater	Back of Amphitheater
Vessel	Inside Antiquarium	Inside Antiquarium	Inside Antiquarium
Inside Antiquarium	Inside Antiquarium	Inside Antiquarium	Inside Antiquarium

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View from
Hotel Forum Roof Terrace:

After breakfast at the Hotel Forum's Roof Terrace we headed out of Rome, stopping at the Lateran Obelisk (Obelisk Di Lateran)

Annaliese & I
Minturno Ruins
(photo by Larry Inman)

In this photograph, you can see some of the amazing UMBRELLA PINES (Italian Pines or Pine-Kernel Pines) in the distance, planted to shade the soldiers, they still criss-cross the Italian countryside marking the original Roman roads. Soaring to heights of 40+ feet, they are dubbed the "king of trees" in Rome.

Most of Minturnae is still being unearthed, and most visitors miss this wonderful out of the way and less publicized location. We had the entire ruins site completely to oursELFKIN CLAN!

We had a late lunch of Panini (ham and mozzarella cheese on bread, all fresh!) to go from a little deli shop on our way toward Naples and dinner from the local pizzeria Savaris near the base.