Download The Roman Forum

The Roman Forum
How had the Emperor Augustus left his mark on central Rome by the time of his death in
A.D. 14?
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
▲ The Forum Romanum at
the time of Augustus
H
I
J
K
L
M
Drawing from Connolly, P. (1998) The ancient city (Oxford) p. 110.
N
P
Tabularium
Temple of Concord
Temple of Saturn
Basilica Julia
rostra
Temple of Castor and
Pollux
Temple of the
Deified Julius Caesar
Temple of Vesta
Regia
Basilica Aemilia
Curia Julia
Forum of Julius
Caesar
Temple of Venus
Genetrix
Forum of Augustus
Temple of Mars Ultor
It has long been recognised that one of the most compelling means by which Augustus staked
his claim to power over Rome, alongside his political reforms, his military achievements and his
literary propaganda, was his self-insertion into the visible fabric of the city of Rome. Everywhere
you went in the city, you would see a building built or restored by Augustus, a dedication in his
name, a statue of the emperor, or a reminder of his divine heritage. This activity is your
opportunity to explore how Augustus has left his mark on one small, but crucial, are of central
Rome. The resources you have been encouraged to use should demonstrate that a lot of
relevant information is available on the Forum area and its buildings, and there are many
different ways of approaching and tackling this activity.
You may have opted to examine a small number of buildings as case-studies for this activity, or
you may have decided to approach the activity by means of building types ('social', 'political' and
'religious', for example). Either way is perfectly legitimate, and there are many other ways of
going about this. What you need to come up with in the end, though, is a more sophisticated
understanding of the effect that the emperor had on the landscape of Rome. Here are a few
suggestions:
1. The Three Fora
You will see from the plan that, by A.D. 14, there was not one but three fora (the plural of forum)
in central Rome: the old, main Forum, which had been in use since the sixth century B.C.; the
Forum of Julius Caesar, begun by Julius Caesar and completed by his heir Augustus after
Caesar's death; and the Forum of Augustus, dedicated by Augustus in 2 B.C.
Coin depicting the Temple of Venus Genetrix in the Forum of Caesar
Not only does this mean that Augustus' activities had nearly tripled communal Roman space in
this area, but the new space was named after the emperor, and made visitors think of him. The
Forum of Julius Caesar was dedicated to Augustus' adopted father and had at its centre a
Temple to Venus Genetrix, the goddess from whom the Julian family claimed descent. The
Forum of Augustus had at its centre, besides a gilded bronze statue of Augustus on a four-horse
chariot, a temple to Mars Ultor (Mars the Avenger), dedicated (in part) because Augustus had
avenged the murder of Julius Caesar and set up to the god who was the father of Augustus'
ancestor Romulus, who had founded Rome.
Reconstruction of the Forum of Augustus, looking towards the Temple of Mars Ultor
Look at the reconstruction drawing: if you imagine a visitor walking into the old Forum through
the arch next to Temple G, and then walking through up to the Forum of Julius Caesar, and then
through into the Forum of Augustus, what does that walk tell you about the progression of time
and Augustus' role in Roman history?
Why is the choice of gods for Temples M and P such a successful piece of Augustan
propaganda?
The area immediately behind Temple P and sprawling round the back of Building J was the
Subura, a seedy commercial and residential district of Rome that was famous for its dirt, squalor
and its down-and-outs. Before Augustus, this district opened out on to the old Forum. What was
the effect of the two new fora on the visibility and accessibility of the Subura, and why do you
think this was significant for Augustus' urban image?
2. Temple of the Deified Julius Caesar
This temple was vowed by Augustus (who was then called 'Octavian') two years after Julius
Caesar's death, and finally completed in 29 B.C. It was the first temple to be dedicated to a
Roman who had died, and Julius Caesar was the first historical figure to be declared a god after
his death.
Look at its position in the old Forum. Where is it facing? What is the significance, do you think, of
its position immediately adjacent to the Temple of Vesta (H) and the Regia (I)? If you were
delivering a speech from the Rostra (public-speaking platform) – itself built by Augustus – what
do you think might be the significance of your view down towards the temple of the Deified Julius
Caesar?
Coin issued by Octavian (later Augustus) in 36 B.C. showing the temple of the Deified Julius
(before it was built).
3. Basilica Julia
This building, essentially a law court, was begun by Julius Caesar and completed by Augustus.
It demonstrated Augustus' authority over legal activities in the city. The Forum already had one
Basilica, the Basilica Aemilia. How do the two buildings compare in the reconstruction? Why do
you think Caesar and Augustus felt the need to build another? Is this new Basilica an exercise in
stamping a new identity on Rome, or in creating continuity?
Reconstruction of the Basilica Iulia
The adjective 'Julia' means 'belonging to the Julian family' – i.e. the family of which Julius
Caesar and Augustus were part. Many buildings set up by Caesar and Augustus, as well as
laws they passed, were described like this. One further example, begun by Caesar and
completed by Augustus, is the Curia Julia – the new Senate House of Rome. What can you say
about the location of this new Senate house? Where is it facing?
The Curia Iulia today
4. Other buildings
Find out about some of the other buildings that were not directly linked to Augustus: the Temple
of Concord (B), the Temple of Castor and Pollux (Temple F), the Basilica Aemilia (J). Did
Augustus (or his family) have any effect on the appearance or use of these buildings?
5. Materials
Augustus paved the entire floor of the old Forum with slabs of gleaming white marble freshly
quarried from Carrara in northern Italy. Where else (on your reconstruction) was this white
marble used, and what do you think the effect might have been on the appearance of central
Rome at this time?
Taking this further
These are just a few ideas and pointers that might emerge from your research, but there are
plenty of others. Use your initiative on the internet to find out more about the buildings examined
in this activity, as well as features that are not mentioned in the reconstruction.
As a modern comparison to the effect of Augustus on the urban image of Rome, you might try to
find out about the construction, location and purpose of the 'Square Colosseum' at Rome, begun
by the Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini in the 1930s in a newly-built district of Rome called EUR.
Start at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palazzo_della_Civilt%C3%A0_Italiana, and see what you
can find out about the significance of this building, and the district in which it was built.
The 'Square Colosseum'