This map is a detail from a drawing in the book of Anna Maria Liberati and Fabio Bourbon. See introduction.
|
On the clickable reconstruction above you find most of the buildings of the Roman Forum. However, a few important buildings, places and roads are not visible on this drawing. Below you find them listed. Click on them and you'll be linked to a description or a recent photograph of their remains.
| ||
Roman Architecture oman architecture was remarkably uniform. The most prominent and very recognisable building shapes during the imperial era were arches, baths and temples. Often a complex of temple, basilica and forum was designed as a unity. The streets of a new city were constructed according to a rectangular grid.At first natural stone was the most important building material, but that changed with the discovery of 'calcium mortar', some kind of concrete. Concrete was cheaper and much stronger then stone, especially if big open rooms had to be bridged. The Romans' building techniques were highly developed. The most impressive building techniques were involved in the building of domes and aqueducts. The Romans added vaults to the use of arches. This way they could build high domes with the help of concrete, which showed themselves for the first time in the Domus Aurea. The construction was very difficult; the technical problem was namely how to be sure of a regular supply of water only by applying the laws of gravitation.
Basilicas he word basilica comes from the Greek word 'basileus', which means 'king'. Originally a basilica was a royal palace.
Basilicas were public buildings. A basilica was a centre of business. But also the administration of justice was done there. After some time every town and city with some self-respect had a basilica.A basilica had to be located at a Forum according to the architectural prescriptions of Vetruvius. In his De Architectura V1 he set the following standards: The width must be half to one third of the length. The height of the columns must equal the width of the side-aisles. The columns on the upper floors must be shorter. The width of a wing must be no more than a third of the width of the nave.
The Basilica had the additional advantage that it could protect people against the heat of summer. This may have been a reason for the increased popularity of the basilica.
State Buildings ext to the religious buildings - temples - the public buildings - basilicae - you could also find administrative or state buildings at the Forum. In the first century BC, and the first century AD, the Forum was the administrative centre of the Roman Empire. So a building arose in 44BC where the senate had their meetings. It was called the curia. Julius Caesar was the initiator and therefore it was given the name Curia Julia. The present curia is the fourth version; the three earlier versions were burnt down.On the far western side of the Roman Forum the Tabularium was situated. The Tabularium was the official state archive and was founded in 78 BC. It marks the borderline between the Forum and the Capitol. In the Middle Ages the Tabularium, like the Forum itself, lost its dignity. It was turned into a salt store and the salt has seriously corroded the tuff walls. Nowadays the local government offices are located on the foundations of the Tabularium. On the north-western edge of the Forum the Tullianum was established. It was the state prison of Rome. Rome's most renowned enemies were imprisoned here. According to a sixteenth century legend Christ's disciples Peter and Paul were imprisoned here too. A lattice work before a cavity in a wall indicates the place where Peter's head rested against the wall.
Religious Buildingshe Romans were very good for their gods. They built a large number of big temples for them. Only at the Roman Forum there were nine temples: the Vesta-temple, the temple of Saturn, the temple of Concordia, the temple of Castor and Pollux and the temple of Divus Julius. In the centuries after Christ some were added: the temple of Vespasian, the temple of Venus and Roma, the temple of Antoninus and Faustina and the temple of Romulus. The temple of Venus and Roma is not located on the actual forum anymore.At first the Roman temples were dedicated to mythological gods or heroes, but gradually temples were dedicated to people. You can also see that in the development of the temples at the Forum. Not all the religious buildings at the Forum were temples. There was also the Regia, the house of the Pontifex Maximus, for instance. In the Regia the sacred lances of Mars were kept and the records of the board of the Pontifices. You also find the home of the Vestal Virgins next to the Vesta temple. The Vestal Virgins had to protect the sacred fire of Vesta. If the fire would be extinguished Rome would be hit by disasters. The Vestal Virgins were highly respected and occasionally even had considerable political influence. Only the Pontifex Maximus, besides the Vestal Virgins themselves, had access to the house of the Vestal Virgins.
Triumphal Arches or the Romans the triumphal arch was undoubtedly the best means to show their invincibility in wars. They were monuments which were meant to remind future generations and ages of the great victories of the Romans, not so much of the single Roman warriors but of the great emperor himself. However, originally the function of the triumphal arch was religious of character.
The oldest triumphal arches had one passage. Later three passages were made of which the middle one was the highest.
The Roman Forum had three triumphal arches. Augustus was the first who built an arch. Unfortunately nothing is left of it. The arches of Titus and Septimius Severus on the other hand, still remain, but they are in poor condition. The Titus Arch dates from 81 AD and recalls the war against the Jews in Jerusalem. The Severus Arch dates from a later time, 203 AD. This arch doesn't fit in the time span dealt with, but because of its dominant position at the Forum it can't be left undiscussed.
The Forum as a work of arthe Forum has inspired a lot of artists. Not only during the time of Roman Antiquity itself, but also centuries later artists like Van Heemskerck, Lorrain, Pannini, Turner and others, have made works of art with the Forum as a subject. One of the most famous artists that has given artistic expression to the Forum was Giambattista Piranesi. He made a collection of 135 etchings, the Vedute di Roma. Many of these etchings show different parts of the Forum.
|