Oppian Hill

{{Short description|Landmark of ancient Rome}}

{{Update|date=July 2015}}

{{use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}

{{Infobox Hill of Rome

| name = Oppian Hill

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| caption = Oppian Hill

| Latin name = Oppius Mons

| Italian name = Colle Oppio

| rione = Rione Monti

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| people = Oppius

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File:Planrome collinesetplaines.png

The Oppian Hill (Latin, Oppius Mons; {{langx|it|Colle Oppio}}) is the southern spur of the Esquiline Hill,Varro De Lingua Latina 5.50 one of the Seven hills of Rome, Italy. It is separated from the Cispius on the north by the valley of the Suburra, and from the Caelian Hill on the south by the valley of the Colosseum. The Oppius and the Cispius together form the Esquiline plateau just inside the line of the Servian Wall.

In the divisions of the Septimontium (seven hills)Festus 341, 348 Fagutal appears as an independent locality, which implies that originally "Oppius" was strictly applied to this spur except the western end.HJ 254–257; Mon. L. XV.782–785 The northern tip of this western end was also called Carinae, which extended between the Velian Hill and the Clivus Pullius, looked out to the southwest (across the swamps of the Palus Ceroliae towards the Aventine), incorporated the Fagutal and was one of ancient Rome's most exclusive neighborhoods.

At least for religious purposes the name Oppius continued in use to the end of the Roman Republic;CIL i2.1003 = vi.32455 — for this inscription, which mentions the Montani montis Oppi, cf. also Pagus Montanus; BC 1887, 156; Mitt. 1889, 278; DE II.2159‑61 no later instance has been found. According to Varro,Fest. 348 its name derives from Oppius, a citizen of Tusculum who came to the Romans' assistance during Tullus Hostilius's siege of Veii. However, the word's true etymology is obscure. It may possibly be that of a clan that lived in this area,Jordan I.1.183–188 a gens name of plebeian status. Detlefsen's conjectureBull. d. Inst. 1861, 18 that Oppius is derived from Oppidus was revived by Pinza,Mon. L. XV.782 who regards the name as comparatively late.

The Oppian Hill Park ({{langx|it|Parco del Colle Oppio}}) covers about eleven hectares.{{cite web|title=One never knows what will emerge from the bowels of the Oppio|url=http://retroblogrome.com/colle-oppio/|website=Retroblog Rome|access-date=11 January 2016}} It was developed in 1871, as part of the urban reorganization that followed the establishment of Rome as the capital of Italy. From that time, the area was used as a public garden; it was during the Italian fascist era that work was carried out to give the park its present appearance. This was planned in 1928 under the guidance of the architect Raffaele De Vico, and completed in 1936. Work included the fountains, statues and marble sculptures that decorate the park today.{{cite web|title=Colle Oppio Park or Oppian Hill Park (Parco del Colle Oppio) next to the Colosseum|url=http://rometour.org/colle-oppio-park-parco-del-colle-oppio-next-colosseum.html|website=Rometour.org|access-date=11 January 2016}} A central avenue leads down the hill to the Colosseum, providing an attractive view.

The Oppian Hill Park is considered to be an archaeological park. Much of the Domus Aurea (Golden House of Nero) lies under it, and it also contains the ruins of the Baths of Trajan and the earlier Baths of Titus.{{cite web|title=Parco del Colle Oppio|url=http://www.sovraintendenzaroma.it/i_luoghi/ville_e_parchi_storici/passeggiate_parchi_e_giardini/parco_del_colle_oppio|website=Sovritendenza Capitolina ai beni culturali|access-date=11 January 2016}}