Martial on Monte Mario

A kilometre or so to the north and west of the Vatican, the tallest hill in Rome's neighbourhood, Monte Mario, overlooks the bend in the Tiber that cups on its far bank the modern district of Flaminio. Tucked under its flank is the Fascist-era sports complex of Foro Italico (originally Foro Mussolini; every would-be Roman Emperor wants a Forum with his name on it).

Suburban development has nibbled at the far side of the hill, but the upper slopes are pleasant parkland; the steeper, Rome-facing flank is a nature reserve and favourite beauty spot. At the summit, accessible by road (traditionally a lovers' lane -- it's even called Vialetto degli Innamorati ), is a perfectly nice-looking cafe-restaurant (sadly long closed), a panoramic terrace, and...Martial.

A marble slab bears five lines from epigram 4.64:

In my World's Classics translation, this runs:

From here, on the one side, you can see the seven imperious hills and take in all of Rome -- the Alban Hills too, and the Tuscans, and every cool spot in the city's orbit; and ancient Fidenae, and little Rubrae...

Martial is admiring the view from the suburban villa of his wealthy best friend, Julius Martialis; but is it this view? What is this poem doing here, and why these five lines in particular (out of thirty-six)? In the next few blog posts I'll do my best to unpick it.

CONTINUED...