Il Viaggio di Marco a Italia

Rome: The Roman Forum

I think the Forum is my favorite spot in all of Rome. The Fourm began as a gathering place for the Roman citizens and remained so until Rome's fall, but each new Caesar added a building or monument to it. Some, like Caligula, knocked some down to make room for his palace. And Mussolini, bless his heart, built a modern road right down the center of it. Still, it's amazing to walk through it and imagine what it must have been like 2000 years ago.


The Temple Of Saturn is the columns on the right. The Arch of Severus is in the background.


The Temple Of Saturn from the west. It once held the treasury of Rome.


The Rostrum - speaker's corner. It used to be a raised platform, but all that is left are the stubs of the supporting columns. This is where public speeches were made including the one by Mark Antony inciting the people of Rome against the murderers of Caesar. Cicero spoke out here as well against the corruption of Rome's new found wealth.

The coulmn is left of the picture is the Column of Phocas - the last monument to be built in the Forum.



The Arch Of Septimus Severus: 6 stories high, it commemorated the Roman victories in Africa.


Arch of Severus close up: the reliefs detail the battles in Africa.


The Forum seen through the Arch of Severus


The Palace of Caligula: the Roman emperor known for torturing his enemies and stealing the senator's wives.The three columns are the remains of the Temple Of Castor and Pollux (Gemini)


The Temple Of Fastina: built by Emperor Antonius to honor his wife.


Arco Di Tito: The Arch of Titus. This arch commemorates Rome's victory over Judea (Israel) in 70AD. By then, Rome was pretty much a benevolent conqueror, asking provinces that the worship the Roman Emperor. Seems the Judeans wasn't interested, so out came the Roman armies, and after a short war in which the Romans sacked Jerusalem, 50,000 Judean slaves were brought to Rome and forced to built this arch. The Romans did have a sense of humor.


The is the right side of the Forum (across Mussolini's road).


The is the right side of the Forum (across Mussolini's road).


Statues like these line the roadway across the Forum.
The Forum is unique is that is evolved as Rome did. The Roman empire lasted a 1000 years. At its peak, there were over one million citizens in Rome. In 476AD, only 10,000 people were left in the city. The last monument built in the Forum was the Column of Phocas. AFter that, the Forum fell into disuse and Europe plunged into the Dark Ages. When the Forum was again unearthed (over 1000 years later), it was covered in 15 feet of dirt and soot. See what hapens when you don't vacuum.
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