PLAN  OF  THE  ROMAN  AND   IMPERIAL  FORUMS  IN  ANCIENT  ROME

Center  of  Imperial  Power  -  Town  Square  of  the  Empire

Circa  300 AD

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A 19th Century rendering of the west end of the Roman Forum showing from left to right;  the Basilca Julia with two story arches,  The Temples of Saturn, Vespasian and Concord;  with the Arch of Septimus Serverus on the right.   In front of "Arch" is a naval monument adorned with the ramming prows (rostra) of enemy ships.   In the center,  is the "Rostra" platform,  from which speeches were delivered.   It also is decorated with the prows (rostra) of sea vessels;  hence this platform was termed the "Rostrum" from which our modern term for a speaking level or podium is derived.   The arched structure above was the Tabularium (national archives) on the Capitoline (Capitol) Hill.   This site is now occupied by the Piazza de Campidoglio surrounded by the three Palazzo (Palaces), designed by Michelangelo for Pope Paul III,  and which were erected on the lower foundations of the Tabularium in the 1400's.   The Town Hall and two Capitoline Museums are now housed in the three Palazzo. 

Detailed Model of the Forum by Robert Garbisch

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Base diagram from "Time-Life - Rome Imperial Glory" with additions by  G.Metz

    IMPERIAL  FORUMS

  1.  Market of Trajan     2.  Forum of Trajan     3.  Forum of Augustus     4.   Forum of Nerva

  5.  Forum of Vespasian     6.  Forum of Caesar

 

    ORIGINAL  ROMAN  FORUM  AND  NEARBY   FEATURES

  7.  Curia (Senate House)     8.  Comitium (Etruscan Forum)      9.  Arch of Septimius Severus 

10.  Tabularium (national archives)     11.  Temple of Saturn     12.  Rostra (Rostrum) 

13.  Basilica Aemilia     14.  Basilica Julia (of Julius Caesar - Court of Law and Justice)

15.  Temple of Castor and Pollux     16.  Regia (residence of Pontifex Maximus, Chief Priest)

17.  Temple of Vesta (of Sacred Fire / Eternal Flame)      18.  House of the Vestals  

19.  Basilica Nova (new,  of Maxentius / Constantine)      20.  Temple of Venus and Rome 

21.  Arch of Titus     22. Coloseum (Amphiteatrum Flavium, built 72 > 80 AD)

23.  Colossus of Nero (30 meters, 99 feet tall)     24.  Meta Sudans (Sweating Pillar)

25.  Arch of Constantine (last of the Imperial arches, 313AD)

 

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