Tabularium, Archaeological site in Roman Forum, Rome, Italy.
The Tabularium is an ancient archive facility at the edge of the Roman Forum in Rome and now forms the foundation of the Palazzo Senatorio on the Capitoline Hill. The structure shows several levels with Doric columns along the front that open toward the Forum, and massive stone vaults inside.
Consul Quintus Lutatius Catulus had the facility built in 78 BC to gather the growing collection of state documents and bronze tablets in one central location. During the Middle Ages, parts of the building were integrated into the new senatorial residence, which arose from the 12th century onward on the Roman foundations.
The name comes from the Latin word for tablets, referring to the bronze law plates that were kept here under strict conditions. The massive construction with its thick walls was meant to ensure the security of state documents and to make the power of Roman administration visible.
Access is through the Capitoline Museums, where you can walk through some of the old rooms and look out over the Forum from the upper corridor. A visit is worthwhile in the late afternoon, when the light highlights the columns and the view especially well.
The Doric columns of the facade come from the Temple of Veiovis, a now vanished sanctuary whose material was reused during construction. The view from the arches matches almost exactly what Roman officials saw over two millennia ago when they stepped out of the archive.
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