The Roman Forum, located between the Capitoline and Palatine hills, was the “chief marketplace of Rome, and, during the Empire, the main seat of government containing the greatest of the city’s basilicas” (2). This grand forum symbolized the power and success of Rome throughout the kingdom, republic, and the empire. Initially, the land upon which the Forum was built was a swampy valley of little to no use to the kingdom. However, during the reign of the Tarquin kings, the Cloaca Maxima, the sewer system of the city, drained the valley in order to create a gathering place for Etruscan citizens (1, online article).
This area developed into a popular marketplace, and a space to hold public speakings and religious processions. A roadway known as the Via Sacra ran through the forum, where “triumphal marches and religious festivals took place,” ultimately drawing many to the Forum (1). The Etruscan kings also established the Regia, the city’s first palace for the kings, which attracted both the wealthy and the poor (3). When the Roman people overthrew the monarchy in 509 BC, a republic was established which significantly affected the purpose and structure of the Roman Forum.
Many years prior o the republic, the corner of the Roman Forum contained the Comitum, the location of public assemblies, and meetings held to vote for laws (3). The social and civil affairs began to expand, and congested the existing Forum. Therefore, Julius Caesar built the Forum Caesaris to the north of the Roman Forum. Over the centuries, other imperial forums were also built close to the Roman Forum. Julius Caesar gave the Roman Forum significance in relationship to Republic affairs. After a naval victory in 338 BC, the Rostra, a platform for speakers, was built.
Julius Caesar constructed a new Rostra facing the Roman Forum eside the northwestern side. Throughout the late Republic, the Rostra held many stirring speeches, one of these concerning the condemnation of Mark Antony by Cicero. Because of this, Cicero’s hands and head were cut off and presented on the Rostra (3). In addition, Julius erected the famous Curia Hostilla, a place used by the Senate for meetings. Augustus Caesar finished both the Rostra and the Curia after the death of Julius (1).
Julius Caesar erected the Basilica Julia, a structure used to accommodate merchants and magistrates, or hold public assemblies (3). Two historic temples, the Temple of Saturn and the Temple of Castor and Pollux were also constructed within the Republic. The Roman Empire resulted in variations to the Roman Forum. The Empire began in 27 BC, and the Roman Forum “primarily became a centre for religious and secular spectacles and ceremonies. It was the site of many of the city’s most imposing temples and monuments” (27).
Augustus Caesar developed the Temple of the Deified Caesar to commemorate Julius Caesar’s rule in Rome. He also built the arch of Augustus honoring himself. By the end of the Roman Empire, the Roman Forum as filled with monuments recognizing the success and accomplishments of Roman history. These monuments include the Temple of Saturn, the Arch of Septimus Severus, the Temple of Vesta, and the Arch of Titus. Located in the northwest corner of the Roman Forum, the Temple of Saturn was built in 497 BC by Tarquinius Superbus.
Eight lonic columns still exist from the temple today, all made from Egyptian granite (9). The six front columns are gray from Mons Claudianus, and the two on the sides are pink granite from Aswan (10). Tarquinius dedicated the temple to Saturn, the Roman god of fertility and agriculture. Legend states that Saturn gave his name to Saturday, and “was honoured with the Roman festival of Saturnalia” (10). Celebrated every 17th of December, the Festival of Saturnalia was one of the most extravagant holidays in Roman culture.
Throughout the celebration, people bestowed gifts upon each other, slaves had the liberties of citizens, and all work stopped. In the temple sat a statue of Saturn, and during the festival, its feet were relieved from the bonds that held him there the rest of the year, symbolizing the freedoms everyone experienced. Not only did the Temple of Saturn hold festivals, but it also held he royal treasury of Rome for several years (9). The Arch of Septimus Severus was built in 203 AD, and is located on the Via Sacra. The Arch is composed of three archways, the largest used to direct traffic throughout the Forum.
The Arch was erected the honor the Roman victories over the Parthians in the later half of the 2nd century. It was dedicated to Septimus Severus and his two sons, Caracalla and Geta, who “restored the Republic and expanded the dominion of the Roman people” (6). Septimus led an army to modern day Iran, defeated the Parthians, and captured the city of Ctesiphon, which was a omentous victory for the Roman military (6). There is an inscription upon the attic of the arch, originally done in bronze lettering, but time and weather have caused it to fade.
Only the matrices of the letters remain, which read the name of Geta and other titles of Severus and Caracalla (8). Sculptures cover the arch, revealing the successes of Severus, Geta, and Caracalla. On each facade, there are four large sculpture panels depicting scenes such as Severus commanding his troops, the attack of the city of Edessa, Parthians surrendering, etc. Today, the Arch tands 23 meters high, 25 meters wide, and 11. 85 meters deep (8). The Temple of Vesta is situated in the eastern end of the Roman Forum.
The builder of the temple is unknown, but it was built around the 7th century BC (18). Today, the diameter of the temple is 50 feet, and each column is about 36 feet in height. The Temple was made from Pentelic marble found near Athens, and the columns possess an lonic style with Corinthian acanthus leaves (16). The Temple was dedicated to Vesta, the Roman goddess of the hearth. In the Roman Republic and Empire, families worshipped Vesta in the household, because she served as a symbol of home and family as well as the guardian of the sacred fire in her temples” (online article about Vesta).
Six Vestal Virgins were priestesses of the Temple throughout Roman history. The sacred hearth of Vesta was located within the temple, and the Vestal Virgins had to re-light the fire in the hearth at the beginning of March. There was also a festival of Vesta, Vestalia, which was held on June ninth every year (18). The temple also contained the Palladium a wooden statue of Pallas Athena. According to legend, the Palladium was taken from Troy and brought to Italy by Aeneas (20).
The Arch of Titus is positioned at the highest point of the Via Sacra (23), and Emperor Domitian commissioned its construction sometime after 81 AD (25). When Vespasian became emperor, his son, Titus, led troops against the revolts of the Jews in Judea. In 70 AD, he captured Jerusalem with four legions. The revolt ended when Titus took Masade fortress in 72 AD. Vespasian died, and Titus succeeded him as emperor, only to rule two years. However, the people admired Titus, and Dometian, the brother of Titus and his successor authorized the arch. Two panels exist within the arch.
One portrays the procession of the triumphant Roman army with the spoils of war: the Menorah, the silver trumpets, and the Table of Shewbread. The second panel illustrates Titus in a chariot, led by the goddess of victory, Victoria, and the goddess of Rome, Dea Roma (25). There are fluted columns on each side of the arch, representing the composite style. On the east side of the arch, an inscription reads: “SENATUS POPOLUS QUE ROMANUS DIVO TITO DIVI VESPASIANO AUGUSTO” (23). This means, “The Senate and People of Rome, to Divus Titus, son of Divus Vespasian, Vespasian Augustus” (23).