Roman Forum
A bit of history

In the 6th century B.C., King Lucius Tarquinius Priscus decided to connect up the various parts of Rome by building on the lowlands between the Capitoline, Palatine and Esquiline hills. But as these low-lying lands were very marshy, he constructed the Cloaca Maxima – Rome’s famous sewer – to drain them. That decision proved crucial because it ultimately set Rome on the path to becoming the powerhouse of the Roman Empire.

Originally, the reclaimed land served simply as a marketplace, but during the time of the Roman Republic, the Forum was extended and used as a meeting place where the Senate convened to talk politics. The first temples and basilicas were also built during this period, including the Basilica Aemilia in 179 B.C. and the Basilica Sempronia in 169 B.C.

The Forum’s heyday, however, came during the time of the Roman Empire. Emperor Augustus made sweeping renovations in a bid to demonstrate his great power, repaving the Forum with white travertine and adding marble cladding to many of the buildings. To underline the strength of his dynasty (the Julio-Claudian dynasty), he also realigned the Forum to face the Temple of Caesar. He even forbid citizens from entering the Forum unless they were wearing a toga, a 6 x 2.50 m cloth that was worn draped over the shoulders and round the body.

In the centuries that followed, Augustus’ successors each made their own mark on the Forum. For instance, Emperor Antonius Pius built the Temple of Faustina in honour of his deified wife. But it was Emperor Domitian (69–96 A.D.) who was responsible for the most significant modifications, including the construction of the Temple of Vespasian and the Arch of Titus.

The Arch of Constantine, which stands alongside the Colosseum, was built between 312 and 315 A.D and is believed to have been commissioned by the Senate to commemorate ten years of Emperor Constantine’s reign.

Many emperors, including Augustus, Tiberius and Domitian, also chose to build their palaces alongside the Forum on the Palatine Hill. With so many emperors building new temples and palaces over the centuries, it’s unsurprising that new buildings were continuously built over old. As a result, although the ruins are extensive, they vary considerably in how well-preserved they are.

The Middle Ages

Following the fall of the Roman Empire and its great emperors, the Roman Forum lost much of its significance, although it continued to be used for public gatherings until well into the 8th century. By this time, however, many of the buildings had fallen into disrepair and there was no interest in rebuilding them. Quite the opposite, in fact: From the 9th century onwards, the former temples and palaces were deliberately destroyed and the stone and other materials used to build new houses.
Many of the temples were also turned into churches. The Temple of Faustina, for instance, became the church of San Lorenzo in Miranda.

Excavation work

The first excavation at the Roman Forum was conducted in 1788 by the Swede Carl Fredrik Fredenheim, who uncovered parts of the Basilica Julia. However, it wasn’t until the early 19th century that the site was excavated more systematically. The residential buildings that had sprung up in the intervening years were torn down, and work began initially on the ancient ruins that were visible above the surface. Among the first to be discovered were the Temple of Faustina and Arch of Septimius Severus.
After Rome became the capital of Italy in 1871, excavation work began in earnest and by 1905 almost the whole of the Roman Forum had been excavated.