“Quod Non Fecerunt Barbari, Fecerunt Barberini”: How Rome’s Ancient Marble Shaped the Christian City

Rome is a city built on layers of history, with each new era using the materials and monuments of the past to shape its future. One phrase that has long echoed through Roman history is “Quod non fecerunt barbari, fecerunt Barberini”. This latin expression, meaning “What the barbarians did not do, the Barberini did,” refers to the sometimes controversial actions of the powerful Barberini family—specifically Pope Urban VIII—who repurposed many of Rome’s ancient monuments to build the Christian city we know today.

Join us as we explore the history behind this expression, focusing on the Colosseum, how its marble was used in the construction of Rome’s Christian buildings, and why travertine played such a key role in both ancient and modern Rome.

The Barberini and the Transformation of Rome

The Barberini family became one of the most powerful families in Rome during the 17th century, largely thanks to Pope Urban VIII, who ruled from 1623 to 1644. While Urban VIII left a lasting architectural and artistic legacy—commissioning works by Bernini and expanding the Vatican—he is also remembered for his controversial use of ancient Roman materials to build the Christian city.

The latin phrase “Quod non fecerunt barbari, fecerunt Barberini” emerged as a critique of Urban VIII’s extensive use of ancient Roman monuments for construction projects. One of the most significant examples is the stripping of the Colosseum’s marble, particularly the travertine, which was repurposed to build and decorate St. Peter’s Basilica and other Christian structures.

The Colosseum: Then and Now

The Colosseum, or Flavian Amphitheatre, was once the largest amphitheater in the Roman world, capable of seating around 50,000 spectators. Its grandeur was not only due to its scale but also to the materials used in its construction. The exterior of the Colosseum was once covered in gleaming travertine marble, giving the structure a magnificent white façade.

However, much of this marble was stripped away over the centuries, particularly during the Renaissance and Baroque periods. Pope Urban VIII and other popes saw the ancient monuments as convenient quarries for their building projects. The travertine from the Colosseum was used in the construction of St. Peter’s Basilica, as well as Palazzo Barberini, the family’s grand residence in Rome.

By the time the papal use of these materials slowed, the Colosseum had lost much of its original marble façade. Today, visitors to the Colosseum can see the honeycombed surface left behind where the marble was removed. What remains, however, is still awe-inspiring—a testament to the architectural genius of the Romans and the complex history of reuse that shaped modern Rome.

Travertine: Rome’s Signature Stone

Travertine is one of the most recognizable building materials in both ancient and modern Rome. This porous limestone is quarried primarily from Tivoli, near Rome, and has been used in Roman architecture for millennia due to its durability, ease of use, and aesthetic appeal.

In ancient Rome, travertine was used in the construction of monumental buildings such as the Colosseum, Theater of Marcellus, and Aqua Claudia aqueduct. Its ability to weather the elements and its neutral color made it a favorite of Roman architects. The stone’s use continued into the Renaissance and Baroque periods, where it was employed in the construction of St. Peter’s Basilica, Palazzo Barberini, and other grand structures commissioned by the papacy.

Travertine’s legacy continues in modern Rome, where it is still used in the construction of buildings, plazas, and even street pavements. Its soft, cream-colored surface reflects the light beautifully, giving Roman architecture its distinctive glow.

The Christianization of Ancient Rome

The practice of reusing ancient Roman materials to build the Christian city was not limited to the Barberini. Over centuries, popes and Christian leaders sought to both preserve and transform the legacy of ancient Rome by incorporating its symbols of power into the new Christian capital. Temples were converted into churches, and marble from the Roman Forum, the Pantheon, and the Colosseum was used to decorate new Christian monuments.

One of the most famous examples is the Pantheon, which was converted into a church in the 7th century. St. Peter’s Basilica, arguably the most important Christian building in the world, also utilized massive amounts of marble from ancient Roman structures, symbolizing the transformation of Rome from an imperial city to the heart of the Christian world.

Curiosities and Anecdotes

• The Bronze Controversy: Urban VIII not only stripped the Colosseum of its marble but also ordered the melting down of bronze from the Pantheon’s portico to build the Baldacchino in St. Peter’s Basilica, a move that caused widespread criticism.
• The End of the Quarrying: The Colosseum continued to serve as a quarry for centuries, until the 18th century, when Pope Benedict XIV declared it a sacred site due to the Christian martyrs believed to have died there.
• The “Quarry of Rome”: The phrase “quarry of Rome” was often used to describe how ancient monuments, especially the Colosseum, were treated during the Renaissance and Baroque periods.

Conclusion: The Complex Legacy of Rome’s Ancient Marble

Today, the Colosseum stands as a powerful symbol of both the glory of ancient Rome and the resourcefulness of later generations who repurposed its materials. While the actions of families like the Barberini may have been controversial, they also played a key role in the evolution of Rome as the capital of Christianity. As you walk through the city, from the ruins of the Roman Forum to the splendor of St. Peter’s Basilica, you are witnessing centuries of history built layer upon layer, all interconnected by the stones of the ancient world.

For guests staying at QuodLibet Bed and Breakfast, exploring these sites offers a unique opportunity to engage with the complex history of Rome’s transformation, where the stones of the past continue to shape the present.How Rome’s Ancient Marble Shaped the Christian City