THE LEGACY OF ROME Even today, over 1,500 years after the decline of the Empire, Rome still has an enormous influence over our lives. Many of our buildings were copied from the Roman style of architecture. Our legal and political systems can be traced to Roman times. There is also a huge quantity of historical evidence, from literature and coins to surviving roads and aqueducts, to keep the memory of Roman well and truly alive. The Radcliffe Camera is a library in Oxford, England. Its architect, James Gibbs(1683-1754), modelled it on a Roman basilica. The dome, the pillars and the ornate, classical style are reminiscent of many of the magnificent buildings of the Roman Empire. Several major cities have been built on sites chosen by the Romans. For example, Londinium(modern day London) was founded by the Romans in AD 43 as a seaport. Can you find out other examples of towns or cities which were built by the Romans, and which remain today? The Roman revival In the early 15 th century, writers, artists, sculptors and architects began to draw inspiration from ancient Greece and Rome. Ruins were studied and statues were dug up. Ancient myths and legends were used as the basis for paintings, such as the French artist Claude’s depiction of Aeneas at Delos(shown right). Latin literature also provided inspiration for Renaissance writers. The English poet Pope was greatly influenced by the Latin writer Juvenal throughout his work.