The Empire Strikes Back
Imperial Fora
The Republican forum was never abandoned and on day six we saw lots of Imperial interventions in that space. Nevertheless from Julius Caesar onwards many individual emperors and dynasties prioritized the creation of new public, civic spaces in the very heart of the city, often at the expense of residential and commercial private structures. The spaces were used for Senate meetings, public speeches, law courts, religious ceremonies and of course conveying impressive messages regarding the imperial family and the imperial power of Rome. Originally there would have been much more permeability between each forum, even as each was a clearly defined space typically surrounded by a colonnade. The separation and confusion of the space today is largely a result of the fascist era construction of the Via dei Fori Imperiali, a parade route inspired by the broad avenues of Paris and other major European cities.
Readings
Claridge: portions on Imperial Fora; Alive! chapter 8.
Solo Presentation Topics
(a) Why did Julius Caesar center the worship of Venus Genetrix?
(b) How does the decorative program of Augustus’ forum relate to his initiatives?
(c) What was the purpose of the Templum Pacis?
(d) Why is there such an emphasis on logistics on the Trajan of Column?
Logistics
Most of today is open air in public spaces, but we will end our time together in the Museum of the Imperial Forum and Trajan’s Markets.
Mercati di Traiano – Museo dei Fori Imperiali
THemes
Why create something so near and yet not in the Republican forum? How is the purpose of the Imperial fora both similar and different from the original forum? How different were the motivations of each sequential building projects?
Blog Prompt
Step back in this post. Don’t worry about writing about just what you saw today. Flip through your photos and choose two that you’ve not yet written about, ideally something you might now understand better and can better contextualize. You’re learning and seeing so much it can be hard to remember it all. Free write on your experience on this trip so far. What haven’t you done yet that you want to be sure to do in the few days ahead?
Gallery
Rome via Brooklyn 