This
area was at first the market-place, and later the civic centre of ancient Rome. The forum was the central area around which ancient Rome developed, in
which commerce, business, trading and the administration of justice took place. In this
area were the market, the tribunal and the
most important religious buildings. The Roman Forum was built in the republican age of
Rome, but then it was enlarged in the Imperial age. These enlargments are called Imperial
Forums, that are composed with: Caesar's Forum, August's Forum, Peace's Forum, Nerva's
Forum and Trajan's Forum. In the Roman/Imperial Forums you can admire several interesting
monuments. The archaeological area is one of the richest in the world, and for all the
lovers of ancient art and history the visit to the Imperial Forums represents one of the
most suggestive stages that Rome can offer. Today, the forum known as the Foro Romano can look like a disorderly
collection of ruins to the uninitiated, but with some imagination you can see the Roman
empire come back to life at this site.
Mappa dell'area centrale di Roma e del
Foro Romano all'epoca dell'Impero Romano (da Nordisk familjebok).
Map of central Rome and Roman Forum
during the Roman Empire (from Nordisk familjebok).
Tempio di Venere Genitrice
(Temple of Venus Genitrix) and the Forum Caesaris, Roma. This temple is in the Forum
Caesaris, this forum was the first of the imperial forums, begun by Julius Caesar and
designed, not for a market, but to provide a centre for business of other kinds. Work was
probably begun in 51 BC. At the battle of Pharsalus Caesar vowed a temple to Venus
Genetrix, the mythical ancestress of the Julian gens, and proceeded to build it in the
centre of his forum.
The Forum area with a church and on the
background the Tempio di Saturno (Temple of Saturn).
The Roman Forum in the background the Arco
di Settimio Severo (on the left) the church of SS. Luca e Martina (in the center) and
the Curia Julia (on the right). The Curia Julia was the new senate house begun by Julius
Caesar in 44 B.C. just before his assassination and
continued by the triumvirs. It was completed and dedicated in 29 B.C. by Augustus.
On the left the Colonna di Foca or Column
of Phocas (this was the last monument built inside the Forum, A.D. 608)
and on the right the Tempio di Saturno (Temple of Saturn), it was built in 497 B.C. The
current ruins date from 42 B.C.
The Plutei of Traiano are two huge marble
reliefs, dating from the time of Traiano. They are located inside the Curia on the Forum
Romanum.
Arco di Settimio Severo (Arch of Septimius
Severus), Roma. The arch of Septimius Severus is one of the two remaining triumphal arches
on the Forum Romanum, the other being the Arch of Titus.
Tempio di Antonino e Faustina (Templum
Antonini et Faustinae), Roma. This temple built by Antoninus Pius on the north side of the
Sacra via at the entrance to the forum, just east of the basilica Aemilia, in honour
of his deified wife, the empress Faustina, who died in 141 A.D.
Tempio di Castore e Polluce (Temple of
Castor and Pollux), Roma. The temple of Castor and Pollux is at the south-east corner of
the forum area. According to tradition, it was vowed in 499 B.C.
by the dictator Postumius, when the Dioscuri appeared on this spot after the battle of
Lake Regillus, and dedicated in 484 by the son of the dictator. This temple was
restored several times, the existing remains are mostly of the Augustan period. Of the
superstructure three columns on the east side are standing, which are regarded as perhaps
the finest architectural remains in Rome. They are of white marble, fluted,
12.50 metres in height and 1.45 in diameter. The entablature, 3.75 metres
high, has a plain frieze and an admirable worked cornice.
The Campidoglio and the Tempio di Vesta
(Temple of Vesta).
The Tempio di Vesta (Temple of Vesta). It
was built in the 3rd century B.C. This temple stands between the Temple of Castor and
Pollux, the Temple of Caesar, the Regia and the House of the Vestal Virgins.
ARCO DI TITO
The Arch
of Titus, a triumphal arch with a single arched opening, located on the Via Sacra to the
west of the Roman Forum. It was constructed shortly after the death of the emperor Titus
(emperor AD 79-81). The arch commemorates Titus' capture and sack of Jerusalem in 70,
which effectively terminated the Jewish War which had begun in 66. The arch was
constructed of Pentelic marble, and is 13.50 metres wide, 15.40 high, and
4.75 deep.The archway is 8.30 metres high and 5.36 wide. In the Middle Ages
it formed part of the stronghold of the Frangipani a chamber was constructed in the upper
part of the archway, and the level of the roadway was lowered considerably, exposing the
travertine foundations.
Arco di Tito (Arch of Titus), Rome. The
inscription reads:
The Arch
of Constantine is a triumphal arch, situated between the Colosseum and the Palatine Hill.
It was erected to commemorate Constantine's victory over Maxentius at the Battle of Ponte
Milvio (312 AD). Dedicated in 315 AD, it is the latest of the extant triumphal arches in
Rome. The arch is 21 m high, 25.7 m wide and 7.4 m deep. It has three archways, the
central one being 11.5 m high and 6.5 m wide, the lateral archways 7.4 m by 3.4 m each.
The lower part of the monument is built of marble blocks, the top (called attic) is
brickwork revetted with marble.
Arco di Costantino (Arch of Constantine).
Dedicated in 315 AD, it is the latest of the extant triumphal arches in Rome.
Details of Arco di Costantino (Arch of
Constantine).
Details of Arco di Costantino (Arch of
Constantine).
Details of Arco di Costantino (Arch of
Constantine).
Details of Arco di Costantino (Arch of
Constantine).
COLOSSEO: ANFITEATRO FLAVIO
The
Colosseum, originally known as the Amphitheatrum Flavium, is an amphitheatre, capable of
seating 50,000 spectators, which was once used for gladiatorial combat. It was built by
Emperor Vespasian and his son, Titus, between AD 72 and AD 90. It was built at the site of
Nero's palace, the Domus Aurea. The amphitheatre is elliptical in form. Its main axis,
running north-west - south-east, is 188 metres in length, and its minor axis 156,
it's 48 metres high. The exterior is constructed of large blocks of travertine. The wooden
arena floor was elliptical, the major axis being 86 metres long and the minor 54, it
was covered by sand.
Anfiteatro Flavio, Colosseo, Roma. The
Colosseum's name is derived from a colossus (a 40-metre statue) of Nero which once
stood nearby.
Anfiteatro Flavio, Colosseo, Roma.
Amphitheatrum Flavium, is an amphitheatre, capable of seating 50,000 spectators, which was
once used for gladiatorial combat.
