Rome is one of the oldest cities in the world, the ancient capital of the Roman Empire. In antiquity (III century a.d.) Rome was called the Eternal City. One of the first so called Rome by the Roman poet Albius Tibullus in his second elegy. The notion of Rome's "eternity" largely survived after the fall of the ancient Roman civilization, bringing the corresponding epithet into modern languages.
Rome is also referred to as "the city on seven hills." Originally the settlements were located on the Palatine hill, later the neighboring hills: the Capitol and the Quirinal were inhabited. Somewhat later, settlements appeared on the last four hills (Caelia, Aventine, Esquiline, and Viminal).
