Ancient Roman fragments are hidden in the streets of New York City
From Pompeian columns to imperial marble, the remnants of the Roman Empire are more present in New York than you might realize. This video explores the physical fragments of antiquity scattered across the city's museums and public spaces.
New York City holds various artifacts from the Roman world, including marble from a Roman imperial palace reception hall and columns once part of a Pompeii villa. The collection even includes an obelisk from a sanctuary that honored Julius Caesar.
Beyond these physical fragments, Roman architectural styles profoundly shaped American design during the 19th and early 20th centuries. This influence extended far beyond grand monuments, inspiring the construction of New York's banks, libraries, churches, and tombs by evoking the legacies of both democracy and empire.
Source: (Pieces of) Roman Buildings in New York City
