Imperial fora, Archaeological site in Rome, Italy
The Imperial Fora are five interconnected squares with temples, basilicas, and colonnades constructed between 46 BCE and 113 CE. Each forum bears the name of the emperor who funded it and displays different architectural approaches to Roman urban planning.
Julius Caesar began building these monumental squares when the Roman Forum no longer met the needs of the growing empire's administration. Later emperors expanded his vision with their own fora completed between 2 BCE and 113 CE.
The Forum of Augustus holds statues of Roman heroes and served as a stage for ceremonies marking young men before joining military service. The temple of Mars Ultor was a place for Roman commanders to make vows before their campaigns.
A visit takes about two hours on foot as the site spans several city blocks and includes different levels. Comfortable shoes are important for walking on ancient paved surfaces and uneven paths.
The Forum of Trajan required extensive excavation at the Quirinal Hill, removing earth and rock to create a level surface. The column of Trajan shows in its height exactly the original level of the hill before the works.
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