What was the role of the basilicas in the Roman Forum?

The Roman Forum was not only used by the Romans as a meeting place or to praise their ancestors during funeral speeches. A pivotal function of the Forum was to render justice in civil law.
In fact the main trials of ancient Rome were celebrated in the basilicas, that were large rectangular roofed areas devoted to this legal practice.
If you by chance have taken my tours of Rome, I use to show my clients the remains of the basilica Julia, created by Julius Caesar and located on the longer side of the main market square. basilicas were also used to sign important contracts and to buy real estate.

Where did Romulus the first king of Rome die?

When walking inside the Roman Forum, there is always chance to see, beyond the arch of Septimius Severus, a paved area that is dark gray color. On the Via Sacra, before the entrance to the Roman senate, a small staircase takes the visitors in a subterranean area. This place is currently called the tomb of Romulus, but indeed it's a sanctuary dedicated to Vulcan, the god of the craftsmen. In the same place, a stone is carved with the oldest inscription in Latin language ,warning the visitors to not violate that sacred place. According to Livy, two are the accounts related to the death of Romulus: he may have been killed by the senators outside of the senate exactly in the place called later on Volcanal, or in the campus Martius when parading his troops. A lightning shrouded him and took him off the ground forever.

The treasures of the Capitol Hill

A very good visit to the ancient Rome begins with the Capitol Hill for a number of good reasons. First of all, the capitol is the smallest of the seven hills and it was used as the religious hill of the Etruscans and the Romans. In 509 BCE, when the Etruscan king tarquin the Proud was expelled from Rome, the Romans inaugurated the temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus that was the largest temple of that time. That temple was used by the Roman generals for the main sacrifices to thank the gods at the end of the triumphal procession that took them safely back to Rome. The Capitol hill today appears in its new architectural setting designed by Michelangelo and it's the seat of the city hall of Rome. The major of Rome has his offices on the Capitol.

The layers of the Roman Forum

Few people know today that, if you join my tours of ancient Rome, you will be able to see some of the layers of the early Rome. Archaeologists are still today digging to understand if the Rome of Romulus existed and if it has been an intentional foundation. For example, last year a sensational discovery of the Lupercal may shed new light on the cult of the she wolf in ancient Rome.

The archaeological area adjacent the Colosseum

Few people know that before the construction of the Colosseum, the area where now is located the Flavian Amphiteatre housed the huge lake of the new House of Nero called the Domus Aurea. Recent archaeological excavations unveiled the preexisting evidence of the house of Nero and the remains of his house on the Palatine called Domus Transitoria. If you want to know more about the monuments to see in the Roman Forum, I will be glad to answer all your questions via email or by phone.

Understanding where the fire of 68 AD took place

Scholars are still debating on where took place the fire that destroyed Rome under Nero. Having talked recently on my post about the Circus Maximus, the most recent opinion sees that the fire for which Nero blamed the Christian took place in one of the shops under the arcades of the Circus Maximus. From there, thanks also to the wooden structure of part of the Circus itself, the flames propagated and destroyed the 80 % of Rome. In one of my tours of Rome I am always proud to show to my clients the aftermath of that fire: the Domus Aurea.

Tour of the Origins of Rome

If you have a chance to book an hotel in central Rome you can begin your visit to the layers of the Eternal City with some good places related to the Rome of the Seven Kings. For example a guided tour of the Circus Maximus will help you understand the Roman passion for the games. As a matter of fact the circus had a capacity of 300,000 spectators and was mainly used for chariot races competitions.