We are in the farthest south-east of the region V. here at this spot, the emperor Septimius Severus let build a large scale imperial residential complex, that was later achieved by emperor Heliogabalus. The complex included a palace, an amphitheatre and a circus.

















The Sessorium palace (Palativm Sessorianvm) or the emperor’s residence. The palace itself showed as an odd group of buildings and annexes with inside courts and foutains. Facing the palace, the Temple of the Emesan Sun (A) rather imponing.



















In the centre of the picture the Castrensis Amphitheatre (Amphitheatrum Castrense). Associated to the imperial residential palace, might have been used for the soldiers of the nearby barracks. During the IIIrd century, it was incorporated into the Aurelian Wall, and the outer arcades were then blocked up. The infrastructures were relatively well protected as part of the defensive wall of the city. Still today remain remarkable pieces of wall.










The Varius Circus (Circus Varianus) right of the picture. So called in honour of emperor Heliogabalus ( Varius Avitus Bassianus) it could have been an integral part of the Sessorium palace. It was used for shows and military exercises in honour of the imperial court, until the building of the Aurelian Wall. The Varius circus, as well as the Castrensis amphitheatre was integrated into the wall to reduce costs, and above all to avoid destroying the circus. The wall did pass through the rows of seats and kept 20% of the construction inside Rome. In the centre of the spina stood the Obelisk of Antinous to honour emperor Hadrian’s favourite, whose tomb was built nearby (A). The obelisk was first erected close to the tomb, and it was only during the III rd century that it was moved to adorn the spina of the Varius circus.




The Baths of Helena were also part of the Sessorium complex. Built by Septimius Severus, they were retaured by Helena mother of emperor Constantine, hence the name of the baths. Opposite to the baths, the gardens of Old Hope (2) brought an incomparable oasis of green freshness. In these gardens took occasionally place the cult and the sacrifices to the new god imported from Emesa by Heliogabalus A chapel of Old Hope (3) closed the south side of the gardens. Last, on the other side of the Aqua Claudia, several tombs of famous families, the Casoniis, Plotiis, Clodiis (1).