Relatively close to the Roman Forum (Foro Romano), the Imperial Fora stand in all their majesty between the Colosseum and Venice Square (Piazza Venezia), in the very heart of Rome. The Imperial Fora consist in a number of monumental Fora, or public squares, that once were the political, religious, economic hub of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire.
Julius Caesar was the first who decided to build a forum bearing his name. Opened in 46 BC, the Forum of Caesar was conceived as an extension to the already existing Roman Forum and had also the purpose of celebrating Caesar’s power, as it can be seen with the statue of Caesar riding Bucephalus, the horse of Alexander the Great, that symbolise absolute force. Within the Forum of Caesar it was also placed a temple devoted to Venus Genitrix, since Ceasar’s family maintained to discend from Venus.
In 2 BC, it was built the Forum of Augustus, the second monumental square of the Imperial Fora. Augustus and Mark Antony had defeated the forces of Brutus and Cassius in 42 BC, this way avenging the death of Ceasar, and in order to celebrate this memorable event, they ordered the construction of the Forum of Augusts, with the impressive Temple of Mars Ultor symbolising Rome’s discent from the god Mars.
The Forum of Vespasian was built in 75 AD, during the reign of Emperor Vespasian. Actually, since it had no civil function, it cannot be considered a proper forum, so it is often referred to as simply the Temple of Peace. The Forum of Vespasian was built to celebrate the conquest of Jerusalem.
Domitian decided to unify the Forum of Caesar, the Forum of Augustus and the Temple of the Peace. He therefore ordered the building of a Forum in the free area between these complex, but construction work only terminated after his death, so the new monumental area took the name of his successor: the Forum of Nerva, also called Transitional Forum since it worked as an access way.
The last Forum was also the biggest and greatest of all the Imperial Fora. In 113 AD, on the occasion of the conquest of Dacia, it was built the Trajan Forum. The most notable monument in it is the Basilica Ulpia, in front of which stands and a large equestrian sculpture of the Emperor. The Trajan Forum also included the famous Trajan’s market.
Stay in an apartment in Rome and visit the Imperial Fora to find out about Rome’s history!
