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What is the primary function of the Arch of Constantine?
In which year was the Arch of Constantine built?
A.D. 315
The Arch of Titus was built in A.D. 85.
True
Match the following arches with their notable fact:
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The Basilica of Maxentius was completed by ______ after he defeated Maxentius.
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What was the primary use of the Basilica Julia?
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Who built the Carcer?
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The Basilica Aemilia is fully intact today.
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What year was the Arch of Septimius Severus built?
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What significant event does the Arch of Titus commemorate?
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What was the original function of the Temple of Concord?
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Who dedicated the Temple of Divus Julius?
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The Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus is located in the Roman Forum.
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What does the Temple of Saturn primarily function as?
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Which Roman deities does the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus honor?
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What unique architectural feature does the Temple of Romulus possess?
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The Temple of Vesta is considered to be the ______ of Rome.
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What is the function of the Umbilicus Urbis Romae?
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When was the Temple of Saturn dedicated?
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Only the foundations of the Temple of Concord remain today.
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Which structure encroached upon the Umbilicus Urbis Romae?
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What is the Mamertine Prison located near?
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There is evidence that corpses were disposed of in the sewer of the Mamertine Prison.
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Who was the sixth King of Rome that enlarged the Mamertine Prison?
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What was the Tullianum originally used as before becoming a dungeon?
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What was the function of the Column of Phocas?
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In what year was the Column of Phocas built?
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What was the function of the Curia Julia?
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Who started the construction of Curia Julia?
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What was the House of the Vestal Virgins originally used for?
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When was the House of the Vestal Virgins completed?
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What is the function of the Milliarum Aureum?
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In what year was the Milliarum Aureum built?
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What does 'Niger Lapis' mean?
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The Niger Lapis is known for containing the oldest Latin inscription.
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What does the Portico of the Gods serve as?
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Who restored the Portico of the Gods in A.D. 367?
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What was the Rostra primarily used for?
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In what year was the Rostra built?
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What was the main function of the Tabularium?
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When was the Temple of Antoninus and Faustina built?
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What is one unique feature of the Temple of Castor and Pollux?
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Study Notes
Arch of Constantine
- Built A.D. 315 to commemorate Emperor Constantine's victory at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in A.D. 312.
- Marks the transition to Christianity as the official religion of the Roman Empire.
- Not technically in the Roman Forum; located between the Colosseum and Palatine Hill.
- Measures approximately 19.8 meters long and 9.1 meters wide.
- Features eight medallions with scenes from hunting and sacrifice, originating from the time of Hadrian.
- Contains parts from other monuments, making it a "recycled" or "work-in-progress" monument.
- Inscription refers to divine inspiration linked to Constantine's reign.
- Last and largest arch added to the Roman Forum, known for its flamboyant use of colored stone.
Arch of Septimius Severus
- Completed A.D. 203 to honor Emperor Septimius Severus's victories over the Parthians.
- One of the best-preserved monuments of the Roman Forum, lacking medallions.
- Originally topped with a statue of Severus and his sons in a chariot.
- Erected on the tenth anniversary of Severus's reign; connects him symbolically to Rome's first emperor.
- Significant as the first major addition to the Forum in eighty years.
Arch of Titus
- Built around A.D. 81 to celebrate Titus's sack of Jerusalem in A.D. 70.
- Unique for its single arch design, unlike other triple arch structures.
- Erected by Domitian after Titus's death, it symbolizes Roman triumph and military success.
- Features detailed reliefs of treasures from the Temple of Jerusalem being paraded.
- Notable for its depiction of the apotheosis of Titus, showing him deified.
- Positioned at a prominent location on the Via Sacra, significant for both aesthetic and cultural reasons.
Basilica Aemilia
- Constructed in 179 B.C., dedicated in 34 B.C., with restorations in A.D. 14 and A.D. 22.
- Served as a commercial center for business transactions and banking.
- The only surviving basilica from the Roman Republic in the Forum.
- Erected by censors Marcus Aemilius Lepidus and Marcus Fulvius Nobilior.
- Floor remnants display stains from bronze coins used during trading.
Basilica Julia
- Initiated by Julius Caesar in 46 B.C. and completed by Augustus; rebuilt after various fires.
- Functioned as a court of law and a governmental space.
- Notable for its oblong design and numerous columns, typical of basilica architecture.
- Frequently burned down and rebuilt, reflecting its significance in Roman civic life.
- Associated with public assemblies and civil courts during its operational years.
Basilica of Maxentius
- Begun by Emperor Maxentius in A.D. 306, completed by Constantine post-312.
- Served as a courthouse and governmental meeting space, also known as the Nova Basilica.
- Largest basilica on the Via Sacra, showcasing significant architectural developments.
- Recognized for its grand design, with extensive use of vaulted ceilings and massive piers.
Carcer (Mamertine Prison)
- Constructed circa 614 B.C. as a cistern, later converted into a prison.
- Lasted in use until the 4th century A.D., originally built by Ancus Marcius.
- Notable for its grim conditions, including a dungeon known as the Tullianum, meant for executing prisoners.
- Located at the foot of the Capitoline Hill; has ties to historical figures such as apostles Peter and Paul.
Column of Phocas
- Erected on August 1st, A.D. 608 to honor Byzantine Emperor Phocas.
- The last monument added to the Roman Forum; stands 4-5 feet tall.
- Originally part of a larger Roman context, later repurposed as a commemorative structure.
Curia Julia (Senate House)
- Initiated by Julius Caesar in 44 B.C. but completed under Augustus in A.D. 600.
- Originally designed as the meeting place for the Roman Senate, later converted into a Catholic church.
- Reflects the shift in power dynamics within Roman governance, with senators having diminished authority.
House of the Vestal Virgins
- Begun by Emperor Domitian in A.D. 64, showcases the societal importance of the Vestal Virgins in Roman religion and culture.
- Served as the residence for priestesses tasked with maintaining the sacred fire of Vesta, symbolizing the health of the Roman state.### House of the Vestal Virgins
- Official residence for the Vestal Virgins, used for cult ceremonies and later as an imperial complex post A.D. 384.
- Located at the base of the Palatine Hill, originally three stories tall.
- Features a secret passageway connecting to the Emperor's Palace.
- Rectangular structure with an elongated atrium and first-floor living quarters.
- Statues adorn the atrium, and rituals involved preparing bread and cakes similar to those made in the Temple of Vesta.
- Built after the Great Fire of Rome in A.D. 64 during Nero’s reign.
- Known as both the "House of the Vestals" and "Atrium Vestae," with its entrance facing the Roman Forum.
- Statues were discovered in disarray, complicating their original arrangement.
- Six Vestal Virgins, chosen from noble families, trained for thirty years, focusing on sacred rites.
- Virgins remained chaste, safeguarded the sacred flame, and prepared offerings for ceremonies.
- After thirty years, they could choose to marry and hold property.
- A Vestal's loss of virginity invoked severe penalties, including execution.
- The Pontifex Maximus was the chief priest with limited influence over fire rituals.
- Vestals held substantial respect and political clout, enjoying privileges beyond their service.
Milliarum Aureum
- Erected in 20 B.C. to signify the beginning and end of major roads in the Roman Empire.
- Crafted during Augustus Caesar's reign from marble and gilded bronze.
- Inscribed with names and distances of major cities from Rome.
- Referred to as the "Golden Milestone," emblematic of the saying "all roads lead to Rome."
- Its base is the only surviving part, with the exact location of remains uncertain.
Niger Lapis
- Likely built c. 570-550 B.C. as the grave of Hostus Hostilius.
- Located where Rome was founded, now buried underground.
- The name means "black rock," known for containing the oldest Latin inscription.
- Often linked to the "Vulcanal," a shrine dedicated to Vulcan.
Portico of the Gods
- Built during Hadrian’s reign (A.D. 118-138), restored in A.D. 367.
- Sanctuary for the twelve Olympian gods and goddesses, located on the Capitoline Hill.
- Last pagan monument restored, originally resembling a standard temple structure.
- The lower level hosted shops and consisted of eight rooms with a twelve-column portico.
Rostra
- Constructed in 42 B.C. as a speaker's platform used politically.
- Featuring the ship beaks as decorations, serving as a backdrop for war speeches.
- Augustus Caesar was pivotal in its design, with five honorary columns remaining today.
Tabularium
- Built in 78 B.C., restored in A.D. 46, originally stored government records.
- Supported the Temple of Saturn and now houses the Palazzo Senatorio.
- Well-preserved structure characterized by its trapezoidal shape and three stories.
- Made from peperino and travertine, complete with elegant vaults and a panoramic walkway over the Roman Forum.
Temple of Antoninus and Faustina
- Constructed in A.D. 141 by Antoninus Pius in memory of his wife Faustina.
- Became the Church of San Lorenzo in Miranda during the Middle Ages.
- Features eight columns and decorated with sculpted griffins and candelabra around the frieze.
Temple of Castor and Pollux
- Built around 484 B.C., restored in 117 B.C., integrated into Tiberius's palace.
- Functioned as a Senate meeting place and maintained weight standards.
- Celebrated Castor and Pollux, who won favor among Romans post-battle.
- Only three Corinthian columns remain, symbolizing architectural legacy.
Temple of Concord
- Established in 367 B.C. by Marcus Furius Camillus to honor reconciliation between patricians and plebeians.
- Rebuilt in 121 B.C. and restored under Augustus.
- Promoted peace and harmony, serving as a Senate gathering site.
- Today, nothing remains except its foundation.
Temple of Divus Julius
- Initiated by Augustus Caesar in 42 B.C. as a burial site for Julius Caesar.
- Located prominently in the Roman Forum, with a niche marking Caesar’s funeral pyre.
- Set a precedent for other Roman Emperors to be deified.
- Visitors continue to leave offerings at the site, which also features a ship-decorated platform.
Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus
- Vowed by Tarquinius Priscus around 616 B.C.; construction completed under Tarquinius Superbus.
- Served as a significant religious center dedicated to Jupiter, representing the peak of Roman state worship.### Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus
- Dedicated to Jupiter, Minerva, and Juno, the Olympian Triad, and located on Capitoline Hill.
- Not positioned within the Roman Forum, and notable for being struck by lightning multiple times and facing several reconstructions after fires in 83 B.C., A.D. 69, and A.D. 80.
- Served as a ceremonial space for new consuls of Rome, with annual sacrifices made to Jupiter.
- Special festivals held on the Ides of September featured a banquet and involved the participation of the statues of the triad.
- The temple included shrines to other deities, notably incorporating those of Terminus and Iuventas, with the action of Terminus symbolizing the cult's permanence.
- Its dedication date, September 13, 509 B.C., marks the first year of the Roman Republic linked to Horatius Pulvillus.
Temple of Romulus
- Constructed in A.D. 309 to honor Valerius Romulus, son of Emperor Maxentius, not the legendary founder of Rome.
- Bronze doors, over 1,700 years old, feature a distinctive green oxidation and open into a rotunda with a diameter of fifty Roman feet.
- Originally functioned as a temple but later transformed into the church of Santi Cosma e Damiano.
- The structure featured apsidal halls leading to Via Sacra, demonstrating the significance of the temple’s position in Roman architecture.
Temple of Saturn
- Established in 498 B.C., the temple was rebuilt in 42 B.C. and again in the fourth century A.D.
- Served as both a storage house and repository for the State treasury, Aerarium Populi Roman, located beneath the steps.
- Iconic for its eight remaining columns, the temple dimensions were approximately 40 meters long, 22.5 meters wide, and 9 meters tall.
- Oldest of sacred places in Rome, with its restoration led by Lucius Munatius Plancus under Augustus Caesar's encouragement.
- Contained bronze tablets inscribing Roman law.
Temple of Vespasian and Titus
- Built in A.D. 79 to honor Emperors Vespasian and Titus, restored later by Emperor Septimius Severus and Caracalla.
- The structure represents the Flavian Dynasty and includes a frieze adorned with sacrificial implements and bucrania.
- Smaller in scale, characterized by Corintian columns and a podium, reflecting its commemorative purpose.
Temple of Vesta
- A round hut representing eternity, possibly initiated during the early Roman Republic, later restored by Julia Duma.
- Located in the Roman Forum, the temple housed an eternal flame, symbolizing the state’s continuity, managed by the Vestal Virgins.
- Burned in the Great Fire of Rome in A.D. 64 and reconstructed, though only remnants remain today.
- Considered the "hearth of Rome," it never received official inauguration as a true temple.
- The Vestal Virgins performed rituals to maintain the sacred fire and preserved salt-cakes and sacramental water.
Umbilicus Urbis Romae
- Built in the second century B.C. as a measurement point for distances from Rome to other cities in the empire and represented the city's symbolic center.
- Originally made from marble, located south of the Arch of Septimius Severus and behind the Rostra.
- With a diameter of 4.45 meters (14.6 feet) and height of 2 meters (6.6 feet), its name translates to "navel of the city of Rome."
- Had a role as an external structure to the Mundus, linking to mythical elements of the underworld.
- The structure experienced modifications during the construction of the Arch of Septimius Severus in A.D. 203, which reused parts of the earlier monument.
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Description
Explore key monuments of the Roman Forum, focusing on significant structures like the Arch of Constantine. This quiz helps you understand their historical context and architectural significance. Perfect for students diving into the history of Rome!
