A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum ā Improvements on the city centre
The Forum Romanum, the beating heart of the Eternal City, was a place of constant transformation. From its humble beginnings in the Roman Kingdom ā once a swamp only recently drained by the construction of the Cloaca Maxima ā to its grand, marble-and-gold-clad appearance in the 3rd and 4th centuries CE, the Forum underwent continuous cycles of building, enlargement, and repair. Since much of the site has been excavated over the past few centuries and has been the subject of countless academic studies, the Forum is among the best-documented areas of ancient Rome. It therefore seemed a fitting starting point for my project (incidentally, the previously mentioned jb-builds began his āLatiumā project in a similar fashion).
My depiction of the Forum developed gradually ā from one temple or basilica to another ā until it eventually included all the major buildings of the Augustan era.
However, once I had completed the main stage of development, several issues became apparent. For one, there remained a vacant space on the slope of the Capitoline Hill next to the Temple of Concordia ā the future site of the Temple of Vespasian, which would not be built until decades later. Moreover, the central area still felt somewhat inaccurate and empty. I therefore conducted further research and added additional details, which you can see here:
The vacant slope has now been filled with what I imagine could have been the Basilica Opimia. This building, whose precise location remains uncertain due to the lack of archaeological evidence, is only briefly mentioned by two Republican-era sources and by the historian Varro. It was said to have stood near the Temple of Concord, which itself was restored and enlarged during the reign of Augustus. Many historians believe that this restoration led to the basilicaās demolition or at least to its being overshadowed by Augustusā redevelopment of the Forum. Since it seems unlikely that such a central spot would have remained empty for more than seventy years, I prefer to imagine that the basilica was only partially dismantled, leaving a portion adjacent to the Porticus Deorum Consentium intact.
My interpretation envisions a small, rather narrow structure with two porticoes on either side and a central hall. Its exterior, in contrast to the gleaming marble of neighbouring monuments, appears darker and earthier ā a deliberate reflection of its age and of the less prosperous mid-Republican period. My updated version of the Temple of Concordia, enlarged in this phase, now overshadows the basilica, reducing it to the role of a placeholder soon to be replaced.
I also added the Carcer (state prison), an interpretation of the Tarpeian Rock on the Capitoline Hill, and a new version of the Gemonian Stairs ā now fully functional rather than purely decorative.
Curia
The Curia has been given a portico on its faƧade facing the Forum, along with several statues that would likely have represented distinguished senators and consuls of Romeās past.
In front of the building lies the Lapis Niger, an enigmatic rectangular area paved in black stone. According to legend, this marks the spot where Romulus vanished into a mysterious fog. In the Imperial period, the area was enclosed by a stone border to signify its sacred character.
Sacellum of Venus Cloacina
First mentioned in the 2nd century BCE, this small shrine was dedicated to honouring the Cloaca Maxima, Romeās ancient sewer system. It was associated with the Etruscan goddess Cloacina, later identified with Venus for reasons that remain obscure.
The shrineās appearance during Augustusā reign can be reconstructed fairly easily: coins issued by the Second Triumvirate depict a round structure with two elevated statues ā likely representing Cloacina and Venus.
Temple of Janus Geminus
Though modest compared to the grand temples of the Forum, the Temple of Janus Geminus held great symbolic importance in the Roman world. Its open doors signified that Rome was at war, while their closure marked a time of peace.
Procopius provides a detailed description of the temple in the 5th century CE. My current visualisation does not yet feature the bronze doors he describes ā Iāll likely return to this structure once I find a suitable design.
Ficus, Olea, Vitis
Amid the forest of stone monuments lies a small patch of greenery containing a fig tree, an olive tree, and a vine. Pliny records that the fig and vine grew naturally near the Lacus Curtius (the small, swampy pool visible on the Forum), while the olive tree was planted to provide shade. I have yet to find models that perfectly match the description, so for now, a single small tree must suffice.
This will be all for now. As you can see, although Iāve made considerable progress in this area, there remains ample room for further detailing and refinement.
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