When the Roman Forum was constructed, the society of the Romans played a major role in how the Forum was laid out. At the far end of the Forum was the Curia, which overlooked the Forum. The main function of the Curia was to act as a meeting house for the senate. They held meetings and trials inside the Curia which faced towards the capitol in the center of the city. There were many shops and markets located in the Forum. These markets were housed inside giant buildings called basilicas. One could find fresh fish or vegetables in the shops. Also, jewelry, clothes and other goods were sold. Slave auctions were held often during the summertime.

The basilicas lined either side of the Forum and helped to designate the boundaries of the Forum. The basilicas served many functions besides marketplaces. They acted as social gathering places and helped to keep the citizens out of the hot sun during the peak times for the Forum in the summer. The basilicas were also home to many musicians in the Forum. Many played for money next to shops and bakeries. At the near end of the Forum, one could find the tabularium. This building served as a state archive for the city of Roman. Public and criminal records were kept in the tabularium. It acted as a boundary between the Forum and the capitol of the city.

One unique addition to the Forum was the tullianum. This building was a state prison in which many Roman prisoners were kept. Also in the Forum were many temples for worship. These temples were spread out all over the Forum. Roman citizens were able to go in and worship while they were in the Forum shopping or meeting a friend. The Forum required a number of temples in order to support the number of people who visited the Forum each day.

The Forum was a very important part of everyday Roman life. It touched every aspect of the society from business to entertainment. It was a popular social gathering place as well as a popular place to worship. In all, the Forum was laid out in a manner which best suited the everyday lives of the Romans.

Back to Reports

Copyright 1999 © Priscilla Kotyk All Rights Reserved