fora and temples - classical greek and roman studies

forum at ostia

2nd century BC, renovated 1st century AD

layout: capitolium, basilica, curia, temple of Rome and Augustus

construction: brick-faced concrete (opus latericium)

function: Administrative and ceremonial center of the port city.

forum of pompeii

2nd century BC

layout: Basilica, Temple of Apollo, Macellum, Eumachia Building, Temple of Jupiter

construction: stone and concrete; colonnaded walkways.

function: political, commercial, and religious hub

forum of augustus

completed 2nd century BC

layout: rectangular courtyard with the Temple of Mars Ultor at one end

construction: marble and concrete from different parts of the empire

function: supposedly built to the pressure on Romes other forums

forum of trajan

106 to 113 AD

layout: Basilica Ulpia, Pantheon, Trajan’s Column, Temple of Vesta, Trajan’s Markets

construction: concrete and marble; complex vaulting.

Built by Hadrian from the spoils of the Dacian Wars, bigger than all the other forums

Capitolium (Temple to the Capitoline Triad)

Ostia, 120 AD

layout: raised on 12 steps to give the illusion of grandeur (imitates the capitolium in Rome)

construction: revetments in wall to attach African marble

function: worship of Jupiter, Juno, Minerva

Temple of Jupiter (Capitolium)

Pompeii, 2nd century BC, renovated in 80 BC

layout: tripartile podium which held the capitoline traid and a triumphal arch dedicated to Tiberius

decoration: 2 tiered colonnade of corinthian and ionic columns

function: worship of Jupiter, Juno, Minerva

Temple of Apollo

Pompeii, 2nd century BC (oldest temple in Pompeii)

layout: large travertine altar with dedicatory inscription of the names of the 4 officials who erected it when Pompeii was a Sullan colony

construction: local stone and stucco

decoration: peristyle colonnade and hexastyle peripteral

function: oldest temple in Pompeii

Temple of Mars Ultor

Rome, 2BC by Augustus

layout: Deep porch and high podium

construction: entirely marble

decoration: octastyle columns and apse with 3 statues depicting the defied Caesar, Mars and Venus

function: religious-political monument avenging the death of Caesar, housed the reclaimed standards from Parthians

Pantheon

Rome, originally built by Agrippa in 27 BC, but burnt down as was rebuilt by Hadrian 128 AD

layout: rotunda with an octastyle portico

construction: concrete

decoration: large oculus, yellow Nubian marble steps and Egyptian granite portico

function: dedicated to all gods; imperial ideology

Temple of Vesta

Rome, rebuilt many times, dating back to 7th century BC

layout: circular peripteral temple

construction: tufa blocks decorated with marble

decoration: corinthian columns

function: held the sacred flame of Vesta

Temple of Trajan

built by Hadrian for Trajan in early 2nd Century AD

Almost all of it is entirely destroyed
Best remnants we have are coinage depictions