Download the Forum of Caesar in Rome

A place for victory:
Eleonora Zampieri
School of Archaeology and Ancient History
[email protected]
Supervisor: Dr. Sarah Scott
the Forum of Caesar in Rome
Image source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/40/The_Triumph_of_Titus_Alma_Tadema.jpg
THE FORUM OF CAESAR
The Forum of Caesar was one of the most important cityplanning innovations undertaken by the dictator Julius
Caesar (100-44 BC) in ancient Rome. The complex was
dedicated in 46 BC, after Caesar’s triumph over Gallia, Africa
and Asia. It was composed of a central area, surrounded on
three sides by porticoes; on the fourth side there was a
temple dedicated to Venus Genetrix, the protector
goddess of Caesar (the Iulii were thought to
descend from Venus). After the defeat of his
enemy Pompey the Great at the battle of
Pharsalus in 48 BC, and particularly after the end
of the Civil War in 46 BC, Caesar decided to
introduce in the decoration of his Forum messages
connected to his military and political victory.
The Forum of Caesar in Rome, view from NW
(copyright: author)
BUT WHERE AND HOW WERE
THESE MESSAGES CONVEYED?
The Griffins
The ancient sources report that the temple of Venus had
been vowed to the goddess upon victory at the battle of
Pharsalus, and that the frontal part of the building was
used by Caesar for meetings with the Senate.
Inside the temple, Caesar displayed the cult statue of
Venus Genetrix and other works of art that celebrated
his victories: a cuirass made of pearls from Britain; six
dactylothecae (collections of engraved gems); two
paintings, representing Ajax and Medea.
If the cuirass and the gems symbolised his successes in
Britain and Egypt, the paintings had a much more
controversial significance: Caesar’s triumph over
Pompey during the Civil War (Sauron 2001: 192-198).
The Equestrian Statue
Statue of Venus Genetrix,
Museé du Louvre, Paris
(copyright: author)
Caesar also dedicated a bronze equestrian
statue representing himself mounting his horse,
in front of the temple of Venus; it originally represented
Alexander the Great with his horse Bucephalus. It was
dedicated on the occasion of Caesar’s triumph, and was perhaps part of
the spoils brought to Rome (Cadario 2006: 27 and 36). Because of the
events connected to the birth of Bucephalus and of Caesar’s horse, the
statue represented the dictator’s supremacy sanctioned by his victory at
Pharsalus and was also an allusion to Pompey’s defeat.
Griffins featured in the decoration of both the porticoes and the temple
of Venus. They were primarily the symbol of Nemesis,
the goddess of the right vengeance and retribution, who
in order to accomplish her task as guarantor of justice
was often helped by these animals.
On the temple of Venus, the
griffins were watered by cupids,
which, in relation to the later
Forum of Trajan, have been
interpreted as celebrating the
military victories of the emperor.
These mythological animals
therefore expressed Caesar’s
supremacy and supported his
claim of having begun the Civil
War because he was the victim of a
terrible injustice.
DIFFERENT MESSAGES, DIFFERENT PEOPLE
The Forum of Caesar in Rome therefore expressed
multiple messages related to military triumph. Some of
these, related to Caesar’s victorious campaigns,
were evident, and could have been understood
by the majority of people; others (very
controversial, connected to the Civil War) were
likely meant to be read and understood only by a
smaller and specific group, who also possessed
the education and knowledge of politics that was necessary
to decrypt them: namely the aristocracy, and in particular the
senators.
Bibliography:
Cadario M. 2006, “Le statue di Cesare a Roma tra il 46 e
il 44 a.C.”, in ACME, LIX, 3, pp.25-70
Sauron G. 2001, “Vénus entre deux fous au forum de
César”, in Evers C. and Tsingarida A. (eds.), Rome et ses
provinces. Genèse et diffusion d’une image du pouvoir.
Hommages à Jean Charles Balty”, Le Livre Timperman,
Bruxelles, pp. 187-199
Image source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/39/Statue_of_a_Griffin,_Parliament_building_%28Vienna%29.jpg (modified)
The Temple
Image source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/13/Julius_Caesar_Coustou_Louvre.png
Image source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/36/Alexander_%26_Bucephalus_by_John_Steell.JPG (modified)