Servian Wall: the city wall of ancient Rome, dating back to the second quarter of the fourth century BCE. Porta Maggiore, Rome | © carolemage / Flickr. The original structure was between 6-8 meters high, but later modifications by Maxentius doubled the height as the need for extra protection increased. Get kids back-to-school ready with Expedition: Learn. As the Roman army started to dwindle after long and tiring military campaigns, Aurelian decided – rather than use his much-needed soldiers to build the fortifications – he would take the unorthodox decision and utilize the citizens of Rome to build the walls. During the Republican times, as Rome’s strength and power increased, the walls were all but abandoned, and the Golden Age of emperors during the 1st and 2nd centuries AD saw peace spread throughout the empire, with barbarians posing no significant threat. Nowadays, the Aurelian Walls are the largest ancient monument in Rome and can be traced throughout the city. These notable defensive walls, however, are not the only enduring contributions made to the city by … Just a stone’s throw away from the bustling Termini station in the heart of Rome stands a section of an ancient wall. There were also 381 square watchtowers located at 30-meter intervals and 18 gateways in and out of the city. The stones, tufa from Veii, cannot have been obtained before this city was captured, which happened in 396 VC. Home » Articles » Place » Rome » Rome - photos » Rome, Servian Wall, About Pictures Sources Countries Languages Categories Tags Thanks FAQ Donate Contact Articles Stubs. The mura aureliane were far larger and stronger than the wall of Servius Tullius and enclosed all of the seven hills of Rome, as well as the Trastevere district south of the Tiber River. This wall is known as the Servian Wall, as it is believed to have been built during the 6 century B.C. The origins of the city walls can be traced all the way back to the 4th century BC, when the 6th king of Rome, Servius Tullius constructed the first defenses. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. This aggravated an already existing conflict between the rich and the poor, and resulted in political changes: the aristocratic political elite had to make the consulship accessible for plebeians. Elsewhere, parts of the wall have been seamlessly absorbed into the modern city and some sections have even adapted into homes and apartments. Most of the Servian reforms extended voting rights to certain groups, in particular to Rome's citizen-commoners who were minor landholders or landless citizens hitherto disqualified from voting by ancestry, status or ethnicity—collectively, the plebs as distinguished from the hereditary patricians… Although the ancient sources state that this wall was built by king Servius Tullius in the sixth century BCE, it is more plausible that it was in fact constructed after 375 VC. However, the continuing expansion and subsequent weakening of the Roman Empire saw the beginning of invasions throughout the lands and, in 270 AD, this vulnerability – paired with the need to redefine the ever-expanding boundaries of the city – prompted emperor Aurelian to rebuild the walls. During the civil wars, the wall was improved with catapult batteries, but after the age of Julius Caesar, it fell into disrepair. Although the ancient sources state that this wall was built by king Servius Tullius in the sixth century BCE, it is more plausible that it was in fact constructed after 375 VC .