Forum of Caesar
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The Forum of Caesar, also known as Caesaris[1], is a section of the Forum Romanum in Rome. It was built by Julius Caesar in 46 BC.
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[edit] Construction
Caesar decided to construct a forum bearing his name in the northeast section of the Forum Romanum, of which he purchased a very expensive, select amount of parcels of land in that area.[2] Forum construction began in 54 BC[3], and it was dedicated to Caesar and his deeds in 46 BC upon completion. Some scholars, however, believe that Augustus, who claims this as well, furnished the west side with the shops and offices that were considered part of the Forum of Caesar, therefore being the one to see its completion.[4] The Forum spanned from the Argiletum on the southeast side of the Forum Romanum to the Atrium Libertatis and spanned 160 meters by 75 meters.[5] As part of the dedication, lavish games were offered and funded by Caesar, indicating the staggering cost and consequentially the personal interest that Caesar had invested.
[edit] Purpose
The Forum of Caesar originally meant an expansion of the Forum Romanum. The Forum, however, evolved to serve two additional purposes. As Caesar became more and more invested in this project, the Forum became a place for public business that was related to the Senate in addition to a shrine for Caesar himself as well as Venus Genitrix.
Before his assassination, Caesar would have the Senate meet him before his Temple, an act deemed very unpopular by the Senate. The Forum of Caesar also had an effect on the Curia, which Caesar began to reconstruct in 44 BC. This reconstruction moved the Forum of Caesar much closer to the Curia. The ten tabernae located on the western side of the Forum and its now close approximation to the Senate house symbolized the unity that Caesar felt between him and the Senate.
Caesar also placed a statue of his favorite horse in front of the temple. Following his assassination, a statue of Caesar was added, riding this horse. Caesar (gens Julia) claimed to have been descended by Venus through his ancestor Julus. The Temple of Venus Genitrix was completed after Caesar's assassination by Roman senators, which included lavish games in reference to Caesar's original dedication to the Forum. Caesar had plans for this Temple well in advance, having dedicated the construction of a temple to Venus Victrix at the climactic Battle of Pharsalus in 48 BC, though never being able to see its completion. This original dedication was done because it was Pompey's favorite goddess, and Caesar hoped to gain the goddesses favour before the battle against Pompey.
[edit] Art
Within the Temple of Venus Genitrix contained an important collection of statues, paintings, and engravings. A guilded statue of Cleopatra VII was erected, setting a precedent for dedications to notable women in the precinct. Paintings in the forum included one of Medea, a Greek goddess, as well as Ajax, a mythological Greek hero, done by Timomachus. Perhaps more personal to Caesar was six collections of engraved gems. This surpassed in number the collection of Mithrodates that was dedicated by Caesar's rival Pompey. It is not known where or how Caesar obtained these six collections.
[edit] Reconstruction
Following the era of the Forum during the Caesar and Augustan reign, a total reconstruction took place, headed by the Roman Emperor Domitian. Why this reconstruction occurred is not exactly known. Under the reign of Titus, a massive fire happened in AD 80 that ravaged the city, including the Forum Romanum. The Forum of Caesar was not rebuilt until AD 95 however, indicating that perhaps Domitian had a personal interest invested in the reconstruction. This could be seen in the separation of the Curia from the Forum, symbolizing a reversal of Caesar's wish to have the Senate closely united to him. Not much senatorial business took place in the Forum afterwards, except for the secretarium senatus in the 4th century AD.
In late May 2006, a team of archaeologists under the direction of Dott.ssa Anna de Santis and Dott.ssa Poala Catalano [6] unearthed an inhumation tomb dating from the 10th century BC in the Forum of Caesar, in comparison to the previous five cremation tombs unearthed there from July 1999 to April 2006.[7]
[edit] References
- ^ Hornblower, Simon and Antony Spawforth. The Oxford Classical Dictionary. 3d Ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1996.
- ^ D.R. Shackleton-Bailey. Cicero's Letters to Atticus. Vol. II. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1965. 199.
- ^ Roth, Leland M. (1993). Understanding Architecture: Its Elements, History and Meaning, First, Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 219. ISBN 0-06-430158-3.
- ^ Anderson, Jr., James C. The Historical Topography of the Imperial Fora. New York: Johnson Reprint Corporation, 1984.
- ^ Hornblower, Simon and Antony Spawforth. The Oxford Classical Dictionary. 3d Ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1996.
- ^ M.G. Filippi, IL MESSAGGERO 03.05.2006, pg. 35
- ^ R.Meneghini, L'AREA DEI FORI DALLA PREISTORICA ALLA TARDA ETA` REPUBBLICANA,pp.18-21.IN: R.Meneghini & R. Santangeli Valenzani (edt.), I FORI IMPERIALI - Gli scavi del Comune di Roma. VIVIANI EDITORE ROME (2007).
Anderson, Jr., James C. The Historical Topography of the Imperial Fora. New York: Johnson Reprint Corporation, 1984.
Hornblower, Simon and Antony Spawforth. The Oxford Classical Dictionary. 3d Ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1996.
[edit] External links
- Forum of Caesar. Capitolium.org - Imperial Forums Official Website (June 26, 2002). Retrieved on August 2, 2006.
- Platner, Samuel Ball; Ashby, Thomas (1929). Forum Iulium. A Topographical Dictionary of Ancient Rome. London: Oxford University Press. Retrieved on August 2, 2006.
- [1] Martin G. Conde, ROME – IMPERIAL FORA. The Forum of Caesar. The Bronze Age Tombs (c. 10th century BC). Excavations & Related Studies (1997-2007).
