Roman Forum & Temple of Antoninus and Faustina

Roman Forum

• The political, religious, and commercial center of ancient Rome, developed over centuries.
• Key structures included the Curia (Senate House), Basilica Aemilia, Temple of Saturn, and the Arch of Septimius Severus.
• Served as the center of public life, hosting triumphal processions, elections, and legal proceedings.
• Fell into disuse after the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 AD.
• Clogged Great Drain (Cloaca Maxima) caused soil buildup over centuries.
• Was buried under debris by the 16th century and known as Campo Vaccino ("Cow Field"), used for grazing livestock.
• Many ancient monuments were repurposed as churches or incorporated into medieval structures.
• Systematic excavations began in the 19th century, later uncovering the Forum's original level.

Temple of Emperor Antoninus and Faustina

• Built in 141 AD by Emperor Antoninus Pius, dedicated to his wife Faustina the Elder.
• Rededicated to both Antoninus and Faustina by Emperor Marcus Aurelius in 161 AD.
• Notable for its Corinthian columns of Cipollino marble, which remain well-preserved.
• Repurposed into a Christian church, San Lorenzo in Miranda, during the Middle Ages.
• Conversion to a church helped preserve it from destruction.
• The original temple entrance was far below today’s ground level due to debris accumulation.
• Church door appears unusually high, marking the medieval ground level.
• Temples converted into churches often remained intact, preserving original Roman architectural elements.

Curia Julia

• Built by Julius Caesar in 44 BC, served as the Senate House of ancient Rome.
• Replaced the earlier Curia Hostilia, which had been destroyed by fire.
• Completed by Emperor Augustus.
• A central location for political debates and decisions during the Roman Empire.
• Its massive bronze doors were relocated to the Lateran Complex during the Middle Ages.
• The doors now stand at the entrance of the Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano.
• Converted into a church in the 7th century, preserving it much better than other Roman buildings.
• Remains one of the best-preserved structures in the Roman Forum.

Temple of Portunus

• Built in the 1st century BC.
• Dedicated to Portunus, the god of harbors and keys.
• Roman temples were set on a high podium with a deep porch.
• Pediment, entablature, and freestanding columns were in the front.
• Engaged columns were embedded in the walls.
• Converted into a Christian church during the Middle Ages, preserving it from destruction.
• Repurposing pagan temples into churches was widespread, contributing to the survival of many ancient Roman structures.
• Remains one of the best-preserved temples from antiquity.

Santa Maria Egiziaca

• Originally a pagan temple, repurposed into a Christian church in the 6th century AD.
• Transformation followed the advice of Pope Gregory the Great, encouraging conversion over destruction.
• Dedicated to Saint Mary of Egypt.
• Maintained much of its original Roman architectural elements.
• Adaptation of pagan temples into churches played a crucial role in the survival of classical architecture.

SIXTUS V Star-Shaped Road Plan

• Pope Sixtus V (1585-1590) transformed Rome into a navigable city.
• Completed unfinished works of Pope Julius II with architects Domenico Fontana and Giacomo della Porta.
• Initiated a star-shaped road system connecting Rome’s major basilicas.
• Rome suffered from unpaved roads, scattered ruins, and isolated churches, making navigation difficult.
• The road plan linked major pilgrimage sites, ensuring easy access to important churches.
• Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore became the central hub of this road system.
• Sixtus V emphasized Mary's importance in the spiritual and urban landscape of Rome.
• Urban planning efforts permanently reshaped the city.

Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore

• Built in the 5th century AD.
• Became the center of a network of streets under Pope Sixtus V (1585-1590), connecting Rome’s most important churches.
• Known for its mosaics and Cosmatesque floors.
• Geometric marble design created by repurposing materials from earlier Roman monuments.
• Its floor plan follows the traditional basilica layout.
• Features a cross-shaped design.
• Features a central nave with aisles on either side of the cross.
• Includes a second-floor clerestory with windows, bringing in natural light.
• Composed of a large apse behind the altar, flanked by two transepts.
• Vast size made it ideal for large gatherings.

Vatican Obelisk

• Originally from ancient Egypt.
• Brought to Rome as a symbol of conquest.
• Pope Sixtus V (1585-1590) sought to Christianize Rome to attract Christian pilgrims.
• Ordered the relocation of the Vatican Obelisk to St. Peter’s Square, making it the centerpiece.
• Reclaiming and repurposing pagan monument to reinforce Rome’s role in the Catholic Church.
• Served as a silent witness to the martyrdom of Saint Peter.
• Christian inscriptions were added to the base and top.
• Architect Domenico Fontana repositioned the obelisk in 1586.

St. Peter's Dome

• Construction began under Pope Julius II (1503-1513).
• Michelangelo worked on the base of the dome.
• Raphael also contributed to the general plan.
• Pope Sixtus V (1585-1590) entrusted Giacomo della Porta as the final architect.
• Della Porta modified Michelangelo’s design, giving the dome its pointed shape.
• Pope's crest, featuring a lion’s head, was incorporated.

Lateran Obelisk

• Originally from ancient Egypt.
• Brought to Rome as a symbol of imperial conquest.
• Placed in the Circus Maximus.
• Emperor Constantine had the vision to relocate the obelisk.
• His son, Constantius II, fulfilled his father’s plan.
• Pope Sixtus V (1585-1590) ordered its excavation and relocation.
• Moved to Piazza San Giovanni in Laterano, placing it in front of the Lateran Basilica.
• A cross was added on top, and inscriptions reinforcing its new religious meaning.

Scala Santa

• Believed to be the steps Jesus ascended during his trial before Pontius Pilate in Jerusalem.
• Brought to Rome by Saint Helena in the 4th century AD.
• Pope Sixtus V (1585-1590) ordered their relocation.
• Moved to the Chapel of Sancta Sanctorum with the help of architect Domenico Fontana.
• Sixtus V commissioned the construction of a protective building, transforming the site into a major pilgrimage hub.

Pope Julius II Private Courtyard

• Pope Julius II (1503-1513) created the courtyard within the Vatican Palace.
• Inspired by classical antiquity.
• Sought to recreate a Roman garden.
• Adorned with lemon trees, the Apollo Belvedere, and the Belvedere Torso.
• Became a center for the study of antiquity.

Laocoön and His Sons

• Depicts the tragic fate of Laocoön, a Trojan priest of Apollo.
• Laocoön warned the Trojans not to bring the Greek horse inside.
• Athena sent two sea serpents to strangle Laocoön and his sons as divine punishment.
• Discovered in 1506 in Rome.
• Pope Julius II acquired the sculpture, placing it in the Vatican.

Hall of the Muses

• Located in the Museo Pio Clementino within the Vatican Museums.
• Designed between 1771 and 1774 to resemble an ancient Roman building.
• Created as a period room to showcase classical sculptures.
• Part of the Museo Pio Clementino, founded in the 1770s under Pope Clement XIV and Pope Pius VI.
• The only section of the Vatican Museums open to the public at the time.

SALA ROTONDA

• Part of the Museo Pio Clementino in the Vatican Museums.
• Designed between 1771 and 1774 as a period room to recreate the architectural grandeur of ancient Rome.
• Important classical sculptures were displayed in spaces similar to their original settings.
• Modeled after the Pantheon, featuring a large domed ceiling and an impressive collection of ancient statues and mosaics.
• Reflected the 18th-century movement to present antiquities in historically appropriate settings.