This four-hour walking seminar through the Palatine Hill, Forum, and Colosseum takes us to the archaeological core of the city. Rich with history, the infamous monuments lay a foundation for the understanding of ancient Rome. Our docent, normally a scholar of antiquities, archaeology, or architecture, will use our surroundings to weave an in-depth narrative on the glory of ancient Rome, painting a picture of the emperors, philosophers, and commoners who brought the city to life. The Archaeology of the Palatine Hill and Imperial ForaWe begin on the Palatine Hill, where, according to legend, Romulus founded the city in 753 B.C. (on April 21, to be exact). After covering the founding myths and anthropological record of the Palatine, we explore the imperial palaces that eventually covered the hill. If time and interest allows, we usually stop in the Palatine museum to learn about Roman statuary and, when possible, make a special visit to one of the archaeological sites normally closed to visitors. We will linger for a while among the ruins the Palatine, as from here one gets a very good introduction to archaeological technique, Roman architecture and construction technologies, and Roman political and social structure. From here, we will explore the remnants of the aqueduct of Claudius and take in vistas of the Roman Forum that illustrate the palimpsest nature of the city. From the Palatine we descend into the Forum for a series of lectures and seminar-style discussions that carry us down the Via Sacra (the main street of ancient Rome), and past the major sites that crowded the city center, including the Curia (senate house) and the temples, triumphal arches, and basilicas around the Forum Square. Depending on the specialization of the docent, we may linger in front of the House of the Vestal Virgins, or the Basilica of Maxentius, or the gameboards etched into the steps of the Basilica Giulia. There are tens of thousands of fascinating details to focus upon in the Forum; and based on the interests of the group, our docent will pick apart a few salient ones to help us get a perspective on the history of this area. From the Roman Forum we exit by the Mamertine Prison and take in the Imperial Fora, a series of interlocking public spaces constructed during Rome's "Imperial Era," perhaps as a way of remaking the old, republican city into a new Emperor-ruled theocratic state. Finally, we stroll down the Fascist-era Via Fori Imperiali to the Colosseum. The Colosseum, we conclude our seminar inside the Colosseum, with a discussion of Roman public spectacle and decadence. Also known as the Flavian Amphitheater, the Colosseum is a marvel of ancient engineering and construction. Gladiatorial fights, wild beast hunts, and mock sea battles all contributed to the spectacle that played an important role in the social life of ancient Rome. We will explore these themes in detail, separating fact from fiction in one of the most visited sites in Rome.