The Curia or Senate House, first called Hostilia, then Iulia, later Senatus. It was built by Tullius Hostilius, after the destruction of Alba Longa, and from that time forward, until the downfall of the republic, was the ordinary place of meeting for the Senate. It was either rebuilt or extensively repaired by Sulla-it was consumed by fire in the tumults which followed the death of Clodius-it was rebuilt by Faustus, the son of Sulla, and soon after demolished by Julius Cæsar, in order to make room for a temple of Felicitas. In consequence of the prodigies which followed the death of Cæsar, the Senate passed a vote to restore the Curia; and this resolution was carried into effect in the year 42 B.C., by Augustus, who named it Iulia. Having been damaged by the fire of Nero, it was repaired by Domitian A.D. 83. Another fire destroyed the edifice under the reign of Carinus, and it was rebuilt by Diocletian. Procopius speaks of the Curia (BovλUTNÍOV) as still in use towards 540. Ninety years later Pope Honorius I. consecrated it to Christian worship under the name of S. Adriano. We owe to this circumstance the fact that the Curia or Senatus has come down to us in so good a state of preservation. The pavement was raised to the modern level by Pope Urban VIII.: the bronze doors were removed to the Lateran by Alexander VII. Adjoining the Curia was the Secretarium Senatus, rebuilt A.D. 412 by Flavius Eucharius, consecrated in the VII. century to S. Martina, and transformed into modern shape by Pier da Cortona.

Tribunal. Puteal.-On the Comitium was a raised platform, the original Tribunal, where the Praetor Urbanus sat to administer justice. It was used for this purpose down to the very close of the republic, although from the increase of legal business, both civil and criminal, numerous other tribunalia were established elsewhere. Close to the tribunal was an altar in the shape of the mouth of a well (puteal), under which the razor and whetstone of the augur Attus Navius were buried; this was the celebrated Puteal Libonis or Puteal Scribonianum, so named in consequence of its having been restored and beauti

fied by Scribonius Libo; it became a noted rendezvous for men of business. A representation of this monument, as it appears upon a denarius of the Gens Scribonia, is annexed.2

Rostra. On the boundary line, between the Comitium, the Graecostasis, and the side of the forum at the foot of the Capitoline hill, stood the elevated platform (subgestus), adorned with naval trophies won (B.C. 338) from the Antiates, and hence called Rostra, from which the magistrates and other public speakers were wont to harangue the people. The Rostra, from being consecrated, is frequently spoken of as a templum.3 The controversy about this celebrated feature of the Roman forum is too complicated to be discussed in these pages; therefore, we refer the 1 Varro L.L. IV. 32. Liv. I. 30. Cic. de rep. II. 17. Gellius XIV. 7. 7.

2 Cic. de divin. I. 17. Hor. S. II. vi. 35. Epp. I. xix. 8. Pers. S. IV. 49, and the scholiasts upon these passages. Ovid. R. A. 561.

3 Liv. VIII. 14. Plin. XXXIV. 5, Ascon. ad Cic. pro. Mil. 5.

C

student to the standard works published lately on the subject, such as
Jordan's Rostri del Foro in Ann. Inst., 1883, p. 23; Nichol's Notizie dei
Rostri, Rome, 1885; and Richter's Rekonstruktion und Geschichte der
Röm. Rednerbühne, Berlin, 1884.

Ficus Ruminalis, &c.-On the Comitium were some of the most ancient memorials connected with the legendary history of the city. Here was to be seen, even in the reign of Nero, the Ficus Ruminalis, the sacred fig-tree under which Romulus and Remus were suckled by the wolf. This originally grew upon that part of the Palatine called Germalus (see above, p. 3), but was transplanted miraculously to the Comitium, through the instrumentality of Atta Navius, whose statue stood hard by with veiled head (capite velato). In the annexed cut will

be seen the wolf, the twins,
the fig tree, the woodpecker
and the shepherd Faustulus,
as rudely represented on
a denarius of the Gens
Pompeia.

In the Comitium, near
the Rostra, was a statue of
the Satyr Marsyas, where
the pleaders were wont to
congregate, and three very

ancient statues of the Sibyls, described by Pliny. It must be observed, however, that some of our best modern authorities suppose that the Sibyls, as well as the Marsyas, were in the lower forum. Students may consult on this subject Jordan's Marsyas auf dem Forum, Berlin, 1883, and Bunsen's Le Forum Romanum, p. 23, n. 27.

We now proceed to notice the buildings which were ranged along the four sides of the forum, beginning from the east side, along which ran a street called ad Ianum.3 The accompanying map is drawn in accordance with the results of the very latest excavations.

We must separate first of all the monuments pertaining to the early history of the forum, which disappeared or changed shape, site, and scope in progress of time, from those raised at a later period, and which lasted until the fall of the Empire.

Taberna Veteres. Taberna Nova.-Each of the longer sides of the forum, from the time of Tarquinius Priscus, was lined with porticoes, to which rows of shops (tabernae) were attached; these were at first tenanted by schoolmasters and by ordinary tradesmen, among whom butchers are especially noticed; but in process of time were occupied almost exclusively by bankers, and, hence, are frequently comprehended under the general designation of Tabernae Argentariae. The row upon the south-west side, having been erected first, bore the name of Tabernae Paul. Diac. s.v. Ruminalis, p. 271. Fest. s. v. Navia, p. 169. Liv. I. 36. Plin. H.N. XV. 18. Tacit. Ann. XIII. 58. Dionys. III. 71.

2 Hor. S. 1. vi. 120, and Schol. Uruq. Martial. II. 64. Senec. de benef. VI. 32. Plin. H.N. XXI. 3.

3 There were three archways or Iani in this street, one at each extremity and one in the middle, severally distinguished as lanus Summus-lanus Medius-Ianus Imus, of which the Janus Medius was one of the chief resorts of moneyed men and usurers.

PLA

Veteres, those on the north-east side of Tabernae Novae, while a particular compartment was known as the Septem Tabernae, and at a later period as the Quinque Tabernae. These localities were so continually in the mouth of every one, that we find them generally spoken of simply as Veteres-Novae-Argentariae, the substantive Tabernae being dropped for brevity. The Tabernae Novae disappeared with the construction of the Basilica Fulvia and Aemilia, the Veteres with that of the Basilica Iulia. Tabula Valeria. Tabula Sextia.-Cicero twice designates a particular part of the forum by the words Tabula Valeria, which are fully explained by Pliny, who informs us that M. Valerius Maximus Messalla placed upon one side of the Curia Hostilia a picture representing the victory gained by him in Sicily over Hiero and the Carthaginians, B.C. 263. The Tabula Sextia spoken of in the speech Pro Quinctio as in the forum, was probably something of the same kind.

Lacus Curtius. An altar, in the very centre of the forum, marked the position of the Lacus Curtius, concerning which there were three distinct legends: 1. That it was a memorial of the great battle between the Romans and Sabines which followed the seizure of the Sabine maidens, this being the spot where the horse of Q. Curtius, the Roman champion, succeeded in struggling out of the swamp in which it had become entangled. 2. That this was the place where, in the fourth century of the city, a yawning gulf suddenly opened, into which plunged the youthful warrior, M. Curtius, generously devoting himself to destruction in order to secure the welfare of his country. 3. That it was a spot which had been struck by lightning (fulguritum), and, as usual under such circumstances, surrounded by an enclosure and regarded as sacred, the ceremonies having been performed by C. Curtius, who was consul B.C. 310.3

Close to the Lacus Curtius grew a fig-tree, an olive, and a vine, which seem to have been regarded with the same reverence by the plebeians of the olden time, as the fig-tree on the Comitium was by the patricians.4 Close to the Lacus Curtius, Galba sunk under the blows of his murderers, and here a statue was afterwards erected to his memory by the Senate. Finally, beside the Lacus Curtius was erected the equestrian statue of Domitian, so minutely described by Statius, in a passage which has proved a valuable guide in determining the position of several of the most remarkable objects in and around the forum.

Columna Rostrata.-In the forum was the celebrated pillar adorned with the Rostra of war-galleys, erected to commemorate the great naval victory gained by Duillius, in the first Punic war (B.C. 260). A fragment of the original inscription engraved upon the base of the column, or, rather, of a copy of it made at a later epoch, still exists, and is a most valuable monument for illustrating the history of the Latin language. Columna Maenia. This pillar was erected, according to the statement of Pliny, in honour of C. Mænius, who, in B.C. 338, triumphed

1 Liv. I. 13. Dionys. II. 42. Plut. Rom. 18. Ovid. Fast. VI. 395. Stat. Silv. I. i. 66. 78.

a Liv. VII. 6. Plin. H.N. 1. c. Val. Max. V. vi. 2.

3 Varro L.L. V. 148-150, gives all the accounts.

4 Plin. H.N. XV. 18.

5 Tacit. Hist. 11. 55. Suet. Galb. 23.

Stat. Silv. I. i.

1 See Corpus. Inscr. Latin. vol. I. p. 87-40, n. 195.

over the Antiates, while the Scholiast on Cicero asserts that it was named from a certain Mænius, who, having sold the whole of his property to form a part of the site for the Porcian Basilica (see below), reserved one column, from which he and his descendants might view the gladiatorial shows, a circumstance which could have no connection with a pillar in the forum, although it may serve to explain the term Maeniana, which originally denoted scaffoldings or balconies from which spectators viewed the games. We find that the Columna Maenia was the place where the Triumviri Capitales were wont to hold their courts for the trial of slaves and malefactors of the lowest class.1

Tribunal Aurelium.-The tribunal of the Praetor Urbanus was, as we have seen, in the Comitium; but as legal business rapidly increased, it was found necessary to multiply the courts; and, in all probability, when criminal trials became frequent, each of the judges had a separate court in some of the Basilicae, which we shall describe below. From Cicero we hear several times of the Tribunal Aurelium (also of the Gradus Aureli), and it is conjectured that it was the same with that which he elsewhere notices as having been in medio foro.2

Cloacinae Sacrum.-On the north side of the forum was an altar of Venus Cloacina (CLUERE antiqui PURGARE dicebant), where the Romans and Sabines were said to have purified themselves after they had been persuaded to lay down their arms by the entreaties of the women. On

a denarius of the Gens Mussidia, of which a cut is subjoined, we find a structure represented with the word CLOACIN below, which we can scarcely doubt was attached to the altar in question. It is supposed to have been employed for some purpose connected with the voting at the Comitia, and hence it is imagined that, of the two figures delineated, one is giving and the other receiving a balloting ticket, but this seems very doubtful. Statuae. There were several statues in the forum, among which we find specially noticed that of Mænius, that of L. Camillus, and that of Q. Marcius Tremulus, who triumphed over the Hernici. Close to the latter, in later times, was placed the effigy of L. Antonius, brother of the triumvir.4

MONUMENTS ON THE NORTH 5 SIDE OF THE FORUM.

Temple of Ianus.-Not actually in the forum, but in the immediate vicinity, at the opening of the great Via Argiletana (afterwards transformed by Domitian and Nerva into a Forum pervium or transitorium), was the celebrated temple of Ianus, built by Numa, which was always closed in time of peace and open during war only (hence called indicem 1 Plin. H.N. XXXIV. 5. VII. 60. Cic. Divin. in Q. Caecil. 16 and Schol. pro Sest. 58. Festus: B.V. Maeniana, p. 134.

2 Cic. pro Sest. 15 in Pison. 5. pro Cluent. 34. Epp. ad Q. F. II. 3.

3 Liv. III. 48. Plin. H.N. XV. 29. Plaut. Curc. IV. i. 9. Eckhel, Doctrin. num. vet. Tom V. p. 258.

Liv. VIII. 13. IX. 43. Cic. Philipp. VI. 5. See Nichol's Forum, pp. 85-91.

5 The forum is not "oriented." We call north side the one that looks more directly towards the north, &c.

pacis bellique and its gates geminae belli portae2). The edifice, as well as the deity, was designated Ianus Bifrons 3-Ianus Quirinus-Ianus Geminus; and, in all probability, served originally as a gate to the citadel, and may be identical with the Porta Ianualis named by Varro." We are told by Livy' that it stood at the lower extremity of the Argiletum (ad infimum Argiletum), that is, near the north-east angle of the forum; and it is evident from the words of Procopius that it was between the Curia and the Basilica Emilia.8 But since it was not the only shrine in Rome dedicated to this god, and since all open archways (perviae transitiones) were called Jani, we must carefully avoid confounding the peace and war temple with the temple of Janus built by Duillius in the Forum Olitorium near the spot where the theatre of Marcellus was afterwards erected,10 with the three arches or Jani in the Forum Romanum mentioned above, and with the Janus quadrifrons in the Forum Boarium, to be noticed hereafter. The Ianus Geminus was damaged or destroyed by the fire of Nero, and restored by Domitian,11 together with the neighbouring edifices. The temple was discovered almost intact at the beginning of the XVI. century by Card. di Corneto. It attracted the attention of all the leading artists of the age -Peruzzi, Sangallo, Bramantino, &c.-who have left precious drawings of its architecture. Its very foundations were uprooted by Card. Bellay in 1531. Our illustration is from a large brass of Nero.

References.-Piale, dé tempii di Giano, Rome, 1833. Nichol's Forum, p. 223. Lanciani, L'aula e gli uffici del Senato, Rome, 1883, p. 26.

Basilica Emilia (et Fulvia).-Erected B.C. 179, by M. Fulvius Nobilior, who was censor in that year along with M. Æmilius Lepidus. It was opposite to the middle of the forum (in medio foro), from which it was separated by the street ad Ianum, and by the argentariae novae, and therefore stood upon the north side. It was thoroughly repaired and apparently greatly enlarged in B.C. 55, by L. Æmilius Paullus (consul B.C. 50), and hence, in aftertimes, was frequently termed Basilica Paulli, and by Statius sublimis regia Paulli. We must, however, mention that the words of Cicero, which form our authority for this restoration, are so ambiguous, that many topographers have concluded that Paullus not only repaired the ancient Basilica Fulvia, but also constructed upon one side of it another far more magni

ficent, and that this latter is the true Basilica Paulli.12 On a denarius of

1 Liv. I. 19.

3 Virg. Æn. VII. 180. XII, 198.

5 Varro, L. L. V. § 156. Plin. H. N. XXXIV. 7. 7 Liv. I. 19.

As Servius has done ad Virg. Æn. VII. 607. 10 Tacit. Ann. II. 49. Plin. H.N. XXXVI. 5. 8.

11 Martial. Ep. x. 27. Statius Sylv. IV. 1.

2 Virg. Æn. VII. 607. Plut. Num. 20.

4 Hor. C. IV. xv. 8.

6 Varro, L. L. V. § 165.

8 Gothic, I. 25.

Corpus I. 4. I. p. 320.

12 Liv. XL. 5. Varro, L.L. VI., § 4. Cic. ad Attic, IV. 16. Stat. Silv. I. 1. 29.