![]() ![]() But most of the ancient buildings and sites in the Roman Forum were destroyed in 410 AD, around the same time as the Empire began to collapse. As the district fell into disrepair, the site came to be neglected and overgrown. ![]() Its last major expansion took place during the reign of Constantine in 312 AD, to a building called the Basilica of Maxentius. Even before this, however, many economic and political events began to take place in more elaborate structures to the north of the Forum. As the Roman Empire fell into despair so did the Forum. Having first been developed in the 7th century BCE, time has certainly taken its toll on this ancient attraction. Famous writer, William Shakespeare also often used ancient Rome as the setting for his plays and other works. Italian artist Giambattista Piranesi, for instance, who lived during the 1700s, was known for creating a set of etchings that depicted views of Rome. These have influenced many artists, architects and writers throughout history. The Romans were influenced by the Greeks in various aspects of life, architecture included, but being advanced engineers the Romans also invented their own design features, such as domes, basilicas, triumphal arches, baths and amphitheatres, as can be seen by structures like the Colosseum and the Arch of Titus. Influence from each period can be seen in the design and construction of the buildings. The Roman Forum was reconstructed many times throughout its existence, and this made way for various forms of architecture from different eras to merge together. What makes the Roman Forum such a keen area of interest for people, is not just how old it is, but its timeline of different eras which is demonstrated through its changing architecture. For such an array of activities, the Forum expanded and developed over time, comprising of numerous buildings to accommodate the demands of the city. Some important buildings to note are the Senate House, known as the “Curia” which served as the council house for the Roman Senate the Temple of Saturn, considered one of the earliest temples in Forum, was dedicated to the god of agriculture the Rostra, a platform which people could stand on to give speeches and the infamous Temple of Vesta, home to the Vestal Virgins. Some of the events that took place there include elections, public speeches, religious ceremonies, business dealings, buying, trading and more. The site was originally just a marshy burial ground until it was developed in the 7th century BC, growing over time to become the social, political and commercial hub of the Roman Empire. The Forum itself is a rectangular plaza surrounded by the ruins of several important ancient government buildings. Some may be surprised to find that the sprawl of ruins that lies at the top of Palatine Hill was once the centre of day-to-day life in Ancient Rome. One of the very best examples of this is what is known as the Roman Forum, or Forum Romanum. Though exploring Rome’s Vatican City can prove to be an activity that could take months to complete, there is much more that one can do on a tour of the Vatican that takes place outside its walls. What Is The Roman Forum? Just outside the Vatican’s walls lies the Eternal City of Rome, home to several ancient artefacts, including the Roman Forum. ![]()
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