5/5 SARDAR Manpreet Singh K. 3 years ago on Google
The
Roman
Forum,
known
as Forum
Romanum in
Latin,
was
a
site
located
at
the
center
of
the
ancient
city
of
Rome
and
the
location
of
important
religious,
political
and
social
activities.
Historians
believe
people
first
began
publicly
meeting
in
the
open-air
Forum
around
500
B.C.,
when
the
Roman
Republic
was
founded.
The
rectangular-shaped
area,
sited
on
low-lying
land
between
Palatine
Hill
and
Capitoline
Hill,
was
home
to
many
of
the
ancient
city’s
most
impressive
temples
and
monuments.
Today,
the
Roman
Forum
is
one
of
the
most
famous
tourist
sites
in
the
world,
attracting
more
than
4.5
million
visitors
annually.
Forum’s
Early
History
According
to
a
widely
accepted
legend, ancient
Rome was
founded
by
brothers
Romulus
and
Remus
in
753
B.C.
After
a
rising
conflict,
Romulus
killed
Remus,
became
king
and
named
Rome
after
himself.
The
traditional
story
also
credits
Romulus
with
starting
an
alliance
with
his
rival,
Titus
Tatius,
and
making
the
site
of
the
Roman
Forum
a
neutral
meeting
zone.
At
first,
the
Forum
essentially
served
as
a
marketplace
for
day-to-day
shopping.
Over
time,
it
became
much
more
versatile
and
functional,
as
public
affairs
were
held
in
the
area.
Historians
estimate
that
the
rise
of
public
events
in
the
Roman
Forum
first
took
place
around
500
B.C.,
when
the
Roman
Republic
started.
The
Forum
gradually
developed,
progressed
and
expanded
over
many
centuries.
Statues,
arches,
basilicas
and
other
buildings
were
constructed
to
accommodate
the
gatherings.
Around
the
reign
of Julius
Caesar,
the
Forum
became
overcrowded.
Caesar
is
credited
with
building
a
new
forum,
off
to
the
side
of
the
original,
to
offer
more
space.
Later,
the
Emperor Augustus also
added
on
to
the
area.
Roman
Forum
Functions
The
Forum
was
considered
the
heart
of
Rome.
While
there
were
many
other
forums
in
ancient
Rome,
the
Roman
Forum
was
the
most
significant.
It
was
a
multi-purpose
site
that
accommodated
various
functions.
Events
taking
place
in
the
Forum
included:
Elections
Public
speeches
Criminal
trials
Gladiator
matches
(before
the
Colosseum
was
built)
Social
gatherings
Business
dealings
Public
meetings
Religious
ceremonies
Educational
events
Buying,
selling
and
trading
of
items
Important
Sites
in
the
Forum
Several
important
buildings,
statues
and
monuments
were
located
in
the
Forum.
Some
temples
were
built
to
honor
men,
and
others
were
dedicated
to
gods
or
goddesses.
Some
of
the
most
well-known
structures
in
the
Roman
Forum
include:
Senate
House: The
senate
house,
known
as
the
“Curia,”
served
as
the
council
house
for
the
Roman
Senate
and
a
site
for
various
political
events.
It
was
rebuilt
several
times,
and
in
the
7th
century,
the
Curia
was
converted
into
a
church.
Temple
of
Saturn: The
first
Temple
of
Saturn
was
built
around
498
B.C.
and
is
considered
one
of
the
earliest
temples
in
the
Roman
Forum.
But
it
was
rebuilt
years
later,
and
the
current
ruins
date
back
to
roughly
42
B.C.
This
building
was
dedicated
to
Saturn,
the
god
of
agriculture,
and
was
used
as
a
treasury—where
Rome’s
money
was
managed
and
kept.
Arch
of
Titus: This
first-century
arch
was
constructed
in
81
A.D.
by
the
Emperor
Domitian
to
honor
his
brother,
emperor
Titus,
who
was
victorious
in
the
Siege
of Jerusalem.
Temple
of
Vesta: The
Temple
of
Vesta
was
a
circular-shaped
temple
that
was
dedicated
to
Vesta,
the
goddess
of
hearth,
home
and
family.
The
Rostra: The
Rostra
was
a
platform
that
people
could
stand
on
to
give
speeches.
Temple
of
Castor
and
Pollux: Historians
believe
this
temple
was
completed
in
about
484
B.C.
It
was
dedicated
to
the
Roman
twin
demi-gods,
Castor
and
Pollux,
and
underwent
several
construction
phases.
The
Sacra
Via: This
was
the
main
road
that
ran
through
the
Roman
Forum
and
connected
the
various
important
sites.
This
famous
street
also
stretched
to
the Colosseum,
which
was
within
walking
distance
of
the
Forum.
It
primarily
served
as
a
pathway
for
ceremonies
and
processions.
Roman
Architecture
and
Art
The
Roman
Forum
was
reconstructed
many
times
during
its
existence.
This
allowed
for
various
forms
of
architecture
from
diffe
