Porta Capena

The Obelisk of Axum in Rome in 2002.

The Porta Capena was a gate in the Servian Wall near the Caelian Hill, in Rome, Italy according to Roman tradition the sacred grove where Numa Pompilius and the nymph Egeria would meet. It was one of the main entries to the city of Rome, since it opened on the Appian Way. The origin of the name is unknown, although it may refer to the fact that the road leads to Capua, an important city in Campania, south of Rome.

A well at the Porta Capena provided holy water for the yearly ceremony of Mercuralia.

According to 1st century AD writer Juvenal, the Porta Capena was frequented by beggars. In particular, he says that it was a common place for Jewish beggars.

Porta Capena square hosts the FAO headquarters. Between 1937 and 2004, it was home to the obelisk of Axum.

In popular culture

• The Porta Capena was featured as a location visited by the Cornelii family in the popular Latin textbook series, Ecce Romani.