-
- Construction of Imperial Fora
continued for a period of a century and a half, beginning from
Julius Caesar and finishing with Traian. With the birth of Roman
Empire the old Roman Forum revealed to be too little and not
appropriate for the ever-increasing population of Rome and its new
role as the capital of nearly all the know world of the epoch. The
treasures brought here from other countries and the best architects
were involved in creation of this huge monumental area between the
Roman Forum and the lower slopes of the Quirinal and Viminal,
compound of five Fora: Forum of Caesar (commercial center), Forum of
Augustus (religious and moral center), Forum of Vespasian (cultural
center with libraries and museums), Forum of Nerva (connecting Forum
of Augustus and Forum of Vespasian), Forum of Traian (political and
commercial center). All the Fora were connected and the whole area
was arranged according to a definite plan. In this political-
administrative and commercial center of the city was concentrated
the wealth from all over the world in form of precious marbles and
bronzes, works of art and books containing entire knowledge of that
era. During the Middle Ages and the Renaissance the Fora were
pillaged for their building material and robbed of their marbles and
bronzes, and the are was covered by the new constructions.
- At present, only one-fifth of the
Imperial Fora is visible and the traffic along busy Via dei Fori
Imperiali continues to damage the ancient monuments.
|
