The Roman Forum
A Reconstruction and Architectural Guide

This richly illustrated volume provides an architectural history of the central section of the Roman Forum during the Empire (31 BCE–476 CE).

Gilbert J. Gorski (Author), James E. Packer (Author)

9780521192446, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 11 June 2015

457 pages, 60 b/w illus. 247 colour illus.
31.2 x 23.5 x 4.1 cm, 2.93 kg

The Roman Forum was in many ways the heart of the Roman Empire. Today, the Forum exists in a fragmentary state, having been destroyed and plundered by barbarians, aristocrats, citizens and priests over the past two millennia. Enough remains, however, for archaeologists to reconstruct its spectacular buildings and monuments. This richly illustrated volume provides an architectural history of the central section of the Roman Forum during the Empire (31 BCE–476 CE), from the Temple of Julius Caesar to the monuments on the slope of the Capitoline hill. Bringing together state-of-the-art technology in architectural illustration and the expertise of a prominent Roman archaeologist, this book offers a unique reconstruction of the Forum, providing architectural history, a summary of each building's excavation and research, scaled digital plans, elevations, and reconstructed aerial images that not only shed light on the Forum's history but vividly bring it to life. With this book, scholars, students, architects and artists will be able to visualize for the first time since antiquity the character, design and appearance of the famous heart of ancient Rome.

Part I. Architecture in the Roman Forum during the Empire: A Brief History: 1. The Augustan Reconstruction
2. From the Tiberius to Phocas (14–608 CE)
Part II. The Monuments: 3. The Temple of Antoninus and Faustina
4. The Temple of Caesar (Aedes divi Iuli)
5. The Basilica Aemilia
6. The Curia
7. The Arch of Septimius Severus
8. The West Rostra
9. The Temple of Concord
10. The Temple of Vespasian
11. The Tabularium
12. Portico of the Dei Consentes
13. The Temple of Saturn
14. The Basilica Julia
15. The Arch of Tiberius
16. The Schola Xanthi
17. The Diocletianic Honorary Columns
18. The Temple of Castor and Pollux
19. The Parthian Arch of Augustus
20. The Temple of Vesta
Part III. Conclusions.

Subject Areas: Classical Greek & Roman archaeology [HDDK], Classical history / classical civilisation [HBLA1], Ancient history: to c 500 CE [HBLA], History of architecture [AMX], History of art: ancient & classical art,BCE to c 500 CE [ACG]