The amazing sights in the Roman Forum just go on and on. Here are some more of the surviving remnants from the most important political area of the world 2000 years ago.
The Temple of Castor and Pollox
Only three columns remain, but they are mammoth and give an indication of the original scale of the building. Although mainly the centre of a cult, the temple was used on occasions by the Senate. The temple was originally built in the 5th century BC, but it was rebuilt over the centuries, finally in 6BC by Tiberius.
Bronze door to the Temple of Romulus
The door is original and dates to the early 4th century AD. Although sources say it was a temple to Romulus (the son of Maxentius, not the founder of Rome) but it may have merely been rededicated to him and originally built as a temple of Jupiter.
The Basilica of Maxentius
This was the largest building in the Forum but was also one of the most recent, being built between 308 and 312AD. The surviving section is big, but this is only the North aisle. A colossal statue of Constantine was placed in an apse on the west front – this can now be seen in the Capitoline museums.
The temple of the deified Julius
Once this was a large temple, but it has been much destroyed over the years. The image above shows the very spot where Julius Caesar was cremated. The temple was built in 29BC and even today people place fresh flowers on the mound.
The Nova Via
The ‘New Road’. That’s New as in 2000 years old!
Leave a Reply