 It can be considered a symbol of antiquity. It
was the center of the civic, juridical and economic life in Republican
times. It can be reached from the Capitoline hill going down along
Senators Building or behind the monument to king Victor Emmanuel II and
walking along Via dei Fori Imperiali. It was very damaged by the
barbaric invasions. In 1700 the excavations brought out notable
treasures of Romanic art. To the right of its main entrance you can see
the ruins of the Basilica Emilia, erected in 179 B.C. The pavement of
the ancient street, called Argiletum, separates this basilica from the
Curia which was the Forum"s first civic center. Just behind, you can see
the arch of Septimius Severus, built in 203 A.D. and still almost intact.
It consists of three arcades separated by white columns. Going on there
are the Rostra, that is to say, the tribunes from where Roman Orators
spoke. In front of the Rostra, you can admire the Phocas column, raised
in 608 in honor of the homonymous emperor. Not far, there is the "Via
Sacra", so called because it was crossed by priests during the sacred
ceremonies; it preserves partly the original paving. Along the street,
on the right, there are the Basilica Julia, made under Caesar, the
temple of Saturn and the temple of Dioscuris, erected in the B.C..
Besides, you can see the temple of Vesta which has a circular plan and
where a perpetual fire, symbol of eternal Rome, used to burn. In
addition, you can notice the House of Vestals, where the virgins taking
care of the fire lived. Along the "Via Sacra", on the left, there are
the temple of Antoninus and Faustina and the Basilica of Maxentius. The
"Via Sacra" ended near the Arch of Titus. |
