The Roman Forum
The first site we visited in Rome was the Roman Forum, which was the heart of ancient Rome. The ruins of the Basilica Aemelia, the Comitium, and the Curia are located here. The Basilica Aemelia dates back to 179 BCE, and was restored several times by the Aemilian family. This Basilica became a monument dedicated to the family for their contribution to its restoration. Its ultimate destruction came at the hands of Alaric The Goth when he sacked the city in 410 CE. The extent of the destruction caused by this event can be seen in the copper coins that have been melted into the remains of the marble flooring of the forum.
Located at each end of the Roman Forum, there are two arches, dedicated to Septimius Severus, which was presented on by attending student Ray “Scott” Smith, and Titus, respectively. These arches represented the wealth during the Augustan period, and depict the conquering of various enemy nations, the capture of enemy soldiers, and the triumphant return to Rome.
Alicia, Dylan, Mitchell, Scott
(The ruins of the Basilica Aemelia; the Curia Julia is the building to the left.)
(Roman coins melted into the marble floor by the fires of the 410 invasion.)
(The relative location of the first two Curias, Hostilia and Cornelia, from the Republican era; it was also the location of the Comitium and the site of the lapis niger, a black stone that has one of the earliest known Latin inscriptions and may predate the Republic, as it may refer to a rex, or king, of early Rome.)
(The Curia Julia; it was rebuilt in the late 3rd century CE by Diocletian.)
(The Arch of Septimius Severus; it commemorates the Parthian victories at the end of the 2nd century CE by Severus and his sons, Caracalla and Geta; Geta’s likeness and inscriptions were removed by Caracalla after Geta was assasinated by Caracalla in a plot to acheive singular reign.)
(Students gather around the Arch of Titus; the arch was built by Domitian in honor of his brother Titus’ victories, namely the sacking of Jerusalem in 70 CE; below, the coffered underside of the arch shows Titus’ apotheosis.)
William Skinner
