Before Rome was founded, the Roman Forum was a swampy area between Palatine Hill and Capitoline Hill. Over the next four hundred years, the swamp was filled in, drained, and converted into The Roman Forum, complete with a palazzo. Most cities in Italy and Spain have the same palazzo in the center of the town. There will be a government building and a church next to the palazzo, usually behind a cafe. The design is identical to the Roman Forum.
Photoblog, Rome, Italy, Europe. April 6, 2025, includes photos from previous days.
The Roman Forum is only 5 acres in size but is enormous in Roman history. It was built between the 7th century BC and AD 608. The forum was a rectangular plaza surrounded by various government buildings and religious shrines. It started small and first turned into a trading center, gradually becoming the place where all roads led. You may have heard the phrase “all roads lead to Rome,” but really, all roads lead to the Roman Forum.
The Roman Forum was the center of Roman life when Rome was at its maximum power. About 400 years later, after the fall of Rome, the invading barbarians stole many of its most precious parts. Then, for nearly 1500 years, the forum was used as a dump, almost filling the entire forum with discarded parts of Rome.
Photos of the Roman Forum
The Arch of Titus is located at the Via Sacra’s west end opposite Constantine’s Arch, which is closer to the Colosseum. This arch marks the forum’s start and is the arch conquering Roman armies that would march through on their return from Victory. Arch of Constantine is at the east end of the Roman Forum near the Colosseum. This is the celebration gate that starts the Via Sacra, which was the main street through the forum. This arch was created to honor Constantine to remember the victory of Constantine at the Battle of Milvian Bridge. in 312 A.D.
There is an impressive fresco at the Vatican Museum of the fresco depicting the Battle of Milvian Bridge. It is a remarkable fresco. Here is a link to the article. Splendid frescos in the Vatican Museum
This is inside the dome of the Temple of Venus in Rome. Under this arch stood the statue of Venus. The dome stands on four-story tall walls and was erected by Hadrian in 121 A.D. It is the largest sacred building built by the Romans. While being built, he had to remove the 60-foot-tall statue of Nero called the Colossus. The Arch of Septimius Severus is near the west end of the Roman Forum. The area under the arches is now closed to visitors but was open the last time I visited in 1972. The Arch of Septimius Severus, near the west end of the Roman Forum, was dedicated in 203 A.D. It was erected to celebrate the Romans’ victories over the Parthian Empire, which was located in present-day Iraq and Iran. The arch of Septimius Severus and the dome on the Church of Saints Luca and Martina are to the right. This is the last remaining part of the Temple of Saturn. These columns at the west end of the Roman Forum are a Roman reconstruction and an expansion of the previous Tempe of Saturn. The altar of Saturn, which stood in front of the temple, is thought to have been much older and was associated with Saturn’s founding of the city on Capitoline Hill. The Column of Phocas is a monument associated with Justinian’s Roman victory over the Ostrogothic Kingdom in 535 A.D. The Ostrogoths were a barbarian kingdom of the eastern Goths in Germany and France. The Goths attacked and sacked Rome, including Italy, in 493 A.D. The Church of Saints Luca and Martina stands on the edge of the Roman Forum, on the remains of the “Secretarium Senatus,” a building possibly used as a court for investigating senators’ activities. The Torre (tower) Della Patarina, as seen from the Roman Forum. Below the tower is the Tabularum, which was the records-keeping site for the Roman Empire. In front of the Tabularium are the behind-the-corner columns of the Temple of Vespasian and Titus. The Temple of Castor and Pollux was an ancient temple in the Roman Forum, Rome, Central Italy. It was initially built in gratitude for victory at the Battle of Lake Regillus. These three columns take the crown as the most photographed location in the Roman Forum. The Temple of Vesta on the right, and The Temple of Castor and Pollux (columns on the photo’s left side). The Temple of Vesta housed Vesta’s holy fire, symbolizing Rome’s safety and prosperity. The Vestal Virgins tended the fire as a symbol of home-keeping. The house of the Vestal Virgins and bath (in this photo) was the task of the Vestal Virgins, who kept the holy flame burning night and day. The Romans feared that if the flame were to go out, Rome would fall. The Temple of Romulus was converted into the Church Santi Cosma e Damiano. Saints Cosmas and Damian were two brothers, doctors, and Christian martyrs who performed healing miracles. They are venerated as the patron saints of doctors and surgeons, and their feast day is September 26. They are also known as “Holy Doctors”. The Temple of Antoninus and Faustina was converted into the church of San Lorenzo in Miranda, which probably saved it from destruction over the last 2000 years. It was first built in 141 A.D. by Antoninus Pius and dedicated to his wife Faustina. Later, when Antoninus died, they added his name to the temple. The Temple of Antoninus and Faustina was originally fenced off from the Via Sacra and a large, seated statue of Faustina. The Temple of Antoninus and Faustina’s deep grooves in the temple’s columns are supposed to date to a medieval attempt to dismantle the pillared portico to destroy the pagan temple. Portico Medievale (medieval) is at the right of this picture. Above the arches is the dome of the Temple of Antoninus and Faustina. The Monument Victor Emmanual is to the left along the skyline, followed by the Torre (tower) Della Patarina and Tabularum. The arch is one of the three huge arches that made up the Basilica of Maxentius. At one time, a statue of Constantine stood under one of the arches. When it was built, it was the largest building in the Forum and the last Roman basilica built in the city. Basilica di Santa Francesca Romana is located at the west end of the Roman Forum near Capitoline Hill. Pope Gregory XI is buried in this church. The Palatine Hill, as seen from the Roman Forum. The Palatine Hill is to the south of the forum, and the Capitoline Hill is to the west. To the left of Palatine Hill, looking west, south of Capitoline Hill. The Arch of Septimius Severus is at the bottom, center of this photo. Looking west at the Roman Forum. Palatine Hill is to the left of this picture. Along the skyline to the right is the Monument Victor Emmanuel. This photo shows how busy the Roman Forum is to the east of Capitoline Hill.
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