CIAO! CHE GIORNO ESPECTACULARE!!
Today we took a trip down to the Roman Forum. In the sixth century B.C., the Roman Forum began as a common burial site for the Latium tribes living on the Palatine and Capitoline hills. Then, for some reason, these tribes drained the Forum (Cloaca Maxima) and began using the Forum as a place for public businesses. Throughout the Roman period, the Forum was home to Cicero's passionate speeches, Caesar's murder, and other political actions that resounded throughout the Western world. The Forum is where the Lupercalia and Saturnalia were celebrated. Truly it was the center for business, religion, and politics. Temples were used as banks, treasuries, forums for political discourse as well as religious rites. Furthermore, the oldest Latin inscription was found under a black marble stone known as the Lapis Niger. The inscription, though Latin, was written with Greek letter. Furthermore, though the Forum became less a commercialized area in the Imperial era since Emperors built their own forums, the Roman Forum still retained all its importance. For example, Constantine, though stationed in Constantinople, continued to decorate and bring in monuments to the Roman Forum. Lastly, the Roman Forum provided the people with remembrance of their ancient beginnings. Here are fotos for you guys to enjoy!!!
 |
| The Coliseum from Via dei Fori Imperali |
 |
| Foro Romano |
 |
| Temple of Saturn |
 |
| Palatine Hill |
 |
| Palatine Hill |
 |
| Here some scholars believed used to be where Romulus' hut was located on the Palatine. Notice the holes for posts. |
 |
| Roma from the Palatine |
 |
| Garden on the Palatine |
 |
| Palatine Hill and Roma horizon |
 |
| The Coliseum from the Palatine |
 |
| Arch of Titus |
 |
| Arch of Titus |
 |
| Relief from the Lacus Curtius |
 |
| Temple of Saturn |
 |
| Temple of Saturn |
 |
| The columns of the Temple of Vespasian and Titus |
 |
| The remains of the Temple of Concord |
 |
| Temple of Concord |
 |
| The Temple of Saturn |
 |
| The Temple of Saturn. The front row columns (behind the side column) were taken from the Forum of Trajan |
 |
| Arch of Septimius Severus |
 |
| Arch of Septimius Severus |
 |
| The Altar of Saturn |
 |
| The Aerarium - The Roman Republic Treasury |
 |
| Basilica Julia |
 |
| Temple of Castor and Pollux |
 |
| This is the remains of Augustus' Arch |
 |
| Temple of Castor and Pollux |
 |
| An entrance to the Cloaca Maxima |
 |
| The podium of the first Temple of Castor and Pollux |
 |
| The Imperial Rostra |
 |
| Inside the Curia Iulia |
 |
| Arch of Septimius Severus |
 |
| Curia Iulia |
 |
| The Temple of Vesta (Rebuilt by Mussolini) |
 |
| The Regia |
 |
| The Temple of Antoninus and Faustina |
 |
| Basilica Aemilia |
