On the bottom of the Hilton Hotel Chicago is a beautifully designed facade, reminiscent of a decorative Roman style of architecture that depicts some of Rome’s classical stories, powerful leaders, and military achievements. Ancient Roman facades often adorned the front of many buildings, including temples, amphitheaters, statues, and various shops and public meeting houses throughout the Roman Forum.

The Romans intricately constructed their facades using stucco, marble veneer, or other cheap materials including fired brick or terracotta. The facades were ornamented with marble columns, decorative cornices, and Roman trophies, which are sculpted panels depicting victories and achievements. Roman trophies date back to the early period of the Roman Republic and were originally trees or poles that were planted where the military won a decisive battle, and the trees and poles were decorated with some of the spoils taken from the conquered army. The trophy was an offering to the genius loci, or god ruling the area that the troops fought upon, as gratitude for the victory. While the Romans enjoyed their temporary victory monuments, they desired a more permanent structure exemplifying their successes, and decided to carve images of the victory into stone. Many facades are embellished with carved stone Roman trophies illustrating testimonies of military success and other carvings of gods and goddesses. The Romans constructed statues to honor their ancestors, gods and goddesses, philosophers, military generals, and leaders.

Fasces, or a bundle of sticks featuring an axe, and eagles were Roman symbols of power that indicated their power over life and death and were often carried by magistrates and military leaders. Fasces and eagles were also sculpted into the statues and trophies and The Conrad Hilton Hotel Chicago’s Roman inspired facade is composed of Roman trophies and statues furnished with fasces that refer to the classical past. The symbols of power, statues, and Roman trophies add to the hotel's triumphalist display and nature.

Image of the exterior facade and hotel entrance (photo by Alec Abramson)

Image of a Roman trophy found on the exterior facade (photo by Alec Abramson)

Image of a sculpted carving along the exterior facade (photo by Alec Abramson)

Image of statues along the exterior facade (photo by Alec Abramson)