Roman Forum

As the city of Rome and the empire itself continued to develop, more land started to be transformed to fit the evolving needs of the Roman citizens, which led to the creation of the Roman Forum. While not located in the city's geographic center, the Forum became a central space that held helped to concentrate the various activities of everyday life in Rome and the city's urban makeup.

The site of the Roman Forum is located between the Capitoline and Palatine Hills, which was characterized by a marshy landscape before being developed (Grant 32). The valley was originally used by the region’s former inhabitants, the Latins and the Sabines, as a cemetery around 700 BCE (Grant 34). Around 660 BCE, the Romans began to drain the marshy cemetery to accommodate the expanding city, which resulted in new huts and tombs being built in the valley. The Romans continued to utilize the space for housing until about a century later when it was developed into a marketplace and public center (Grant 36). In this capacity, the square served as a meeting place for Roman citizens and was later regarded as the Forum Romanum, which references the official term for principal piazzas in Italian towns (Grant 43). Further cementing its role in Rome was the fact that all roads in the city led to the Forum, making it a natural nucleus for the city’s business and commercial affairs (Grant 44). The space held elections, public notices, political events, and speeches, as well as featured temples, basilicas, and law buildings, which also contributed to its significance in the everyday lives of Roman citizens (Grant 15). It was also a place known for its ritual nature and space for merchants and athletic competitions (Conti 172). All that is left of the Roman Forum today are ancient ruins of the structures that were once there and it is the subject of many archaeological excavations, as well as tourist visits.

Conti, Flavio. A Profile of Ancient Rome. Los Angeles, CA: Getty Publications, 2003.

Grant, Michael. The Roman Forum. London, England: Michael Grant Publications Ltd, 1970.