Basilica Julia, Forum Romanum, Rome, Italy


  • Date
    7/16/2007 (creation)
Date
Forum: 7th century BCE-7th century CE; Basilica: ca. 54 BCE
Description
The Basilica Julia began construction in 54 BCE by Julius Caesar as a part of his reorganization of the Forum Romanum, where it replaced the Basilica Sempronia. It is located on the south side of the main square of the forum, between the Temple of Saturn and the Temple of Castor and Pollux. The basilica was destroyed by fire on two occasions and rebuilt first by Augustus and then by Diocletian. It rested on a low podium, seven steps high on the east side and just one on the west side, due to the sloping terrain. Its dimensions were 101 by 49 meters, while the central nave of the basilica was 82 by 18 meters and three stories high. This was a civic basilica housing the centumviral court as well as shops. The Forum Romanum was the political and economic center of Rome during the Republic_access; it held many of the central political, religious and judicial buildings in Rome. It is located in a valley between Capitoline Hill on the west, Palatine Hill on the south, the Velia on the east, and Quirinal Hill and the Esquiline Hill to the north.
Style/Period
Roman
Material
stone and/or rock