The Esquiline, in the foreground on the picture, is one the seven hills of Rome. It appeared as a plateau with three small peaks, the Oppius, the Fagutalis and the Cispius. Before the Empire,this area was covered by the cemetary of the poors and had a bad reputation. Later Mæcenas let build there a splendid villa with gardens. By the end of the Empire, the hill was almost completely built. The Viminale was a kind of “bulge” between the Esquiline at the top of the picture, and the Quirinal at the bottom of the picture. It was mainly a living area with insulæ (type of rented houses that formed a large majority of houses of Rome, since 96% of the buildings appeared to be of this kind).

The Insula is found in every part of the city. Over-crowded streets are packed with people buying or selling. The groundfloor of the Insula is used as a shop for the craftsmen, whereby the upper floors are used for living. Two large streets went through the hill, the Vicus Patricius, that can be guessed in the middle of the picture, and the Vicus Collis Viminalis, out of sight. . In the foreground the Baths of Trajan. In the background appears the hill of Viminale and at its foot the popular district of Subura.

On the hill of Esquiline, just behind the Baths of Trajan, you see the monumental Portico of Livia . It was a large contruction, about 120 m long and 95 m wide. It appeared as a wide rectangular square surrounded by a double portico. Several niches were opened in the walls of the portico. In the centre of the square stood a small rectangular building which looked very much like the Ara Pacis. This could have been the Ara Concordia which the poet Ovid speaks about. In the four corners were probably small fourfoil fountains. Augustus had this portico built in the honour of Livia, his second wife.