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The Sullan Forum Author(S): Esther Boise Van Deman Source: the Journal of Roman Studies, Vol The Sullan Forum Author(s): Esther Boise van Deman Source: The Journal of Roman Studies, Vol. 12 (1922), pp. 1-31 Published by: Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/296168 . Accessed: 09/05/2014 13:11 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at . http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp . JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected]. Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to The Journal of Roman Studies. http://www.jstor.org This content downloaded from 169.229.32.138 on Fri, 9 May 2014 13:11:01 PM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions THE SULLAN FORUM. (Plates i-vI and plans I and ii.) By ESTHER BOISE VAN DEMAN. The Roman Forum appears to the casual observer a tangled massof walls superimposed one upon anotherwithout rhyme or reason. After a careful elimination,however, of the confusing elements brought in by later restorations,it is possible to establish certain common levels not only forthe Forum but also for the smallerareas closely united to it. 2 Of these levels, that which we may again, after the lapse of many centuries,call the present level may best serve as a fixed point of referencein our discussion,since all the greater monumentsof the Golden Age in and about the Forum were built or rebuiltin conformityto it. 3 A clearlydefined, though much broken,pavement -of travertine slabs, which is clearlytraceable throughoutthe whole Forum, rendersit more easily recognizable. Though badly sunkenin many other places, the heightof this pave- ment along the line of the main axis of the central area is I250 to I4 metresabove sea level. It rises fromthe travertinepavement inside the hemicyclein frontof the Temple of JuliusCaesar, which lies at I2v6o m. a. s. 1., to the Rostra of Augustusat the opposite end of the Forum, which is I3-99 to I4f04 m. a. s. 1. The slope of the street along the north side of the Forum5 was much less than that of the central area, in order to render the communicationwith the Forum of Julius Caesar more easy. The height of the open area to which this streetled, on a line with the frontof the Rostra of Augustus,is approximatelythat of the nigerlapis, or Black Stone, which is 13195 m. a. s. 1. A short flightof low steps, the remains of which are still traceable, led up to the central area, which was, at this period, 8o to 85 cm. higher. The marble pavement before the Curia, all that is left of the early Comitium, is a triflehigher than the area immediatelyin frontof it. The originalstreet on the south followedvery closely the slope of the centralarea, fromwhich it was separatedby a raised curb, or crepido,and at the west end 1 Capitals have been used for the names of the of Engineers of the Universityof Rome in their ancient buildings, etc., mentioned in this article, valuable plan of the centralpart of the city. (Media in accordance with the practice of the Jotirnal. Pars Urbis,Firenze, 19 I I). 2 For these levels, see plan II. 5The major axis of the present Forum ruins almost exactly north-westand south-east. It has 3 For the Forum of the Augustan period see seemed wiser,however, in this discussion,in accor- I. plan The principal monuments are outlined dance wvithcommoin usage, to designate as the in black. north side that occupied by the Basilica Aemilia, 4 The levels throughout this paper have been and as the south side that on which lies the Basilica reckonedfrom the data established by the School Julia. This content downloaded from 169.229.32.138 on Fri, 9 May 2014 13:11:01 PM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions FORUMROMANUK OF THE SULtANPERIOD CAC \ ACIE~~~~~~~~~~~~ \\~~~~~~~~~~ - TEMPL.UM CONCORDIAE -- /_:..,>.5 / ''''\j,,"/ / TEMPLUM/ _~~~~~~~~~~~~~ / / o BASIL! - H^I,9WfMAV ar 7Jw SIAu& 79D // / -/V W Pwg AVSW / 0 10 20 30 SCALA This content downloaded from 169.229.32.138 on Fri, 9 May 2014 13:11:01 PM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions ~~~~~~~-~- -' * l IJ SCALE~ JULIA I ; BASILICA A M 70 60 POD D f 50 120 30 S SCF LE OF METRE This content downloaded from 169.229.32.138 on Fri, 9 May 2014 13:11:01 PM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions 7 8ASILICA AEMILIA CLOACIgNAE A LAFoVC\V FIATsUS JUUR ____S~~~~~~~~~~~~~j>: I S UL LAN PER1 OD .~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ V%D" 70 BO 0 100& This content downloaded from 169.229.32.138 on Fri, 9 May 2014 13:11:01 PM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions 2 THIE SULLAN FORUM. it rose rapidlyto the Clivus Capitolinus. The terraceon which the Clivus ran,which formed the westernboundary of the Forum proper,is, at this point,about I5 m. a. s. 1. On the east the area beforethe Vestal precinctsloped up graduallyfrom the Arch of Augustus,the foundationof whichis about 12V70 m. a. s. 1., to the westfront of the Regiawhich was considerablyhigher. The Forumat thislevel extendedto the PorticusJulia' on the north,while the area furtherto the west,in whichis theniger lapis, reachedto the pavementin frontof the Curia Julia. The Forum was boundedon the south by the Temple of Castor,which was, however,technically ' in the Forum,'2 and the streetin frontof the BasilicaJulia. The streetin frontof the Temple of JuliusCaesar is commonlyaccepted as the easternlimit of the Forum. The temple lay,however, in greatpart inside the Forum proper,3 which originally extendedto the precinctof Vesta, the monumentsof whichwere regardedas ' on theForum.' 4 In likemanner, the Temple of Saturn continuedto be regardedas thewestern limit, though the actualarea ended,at thisperiod, at the Rostraof Augustus. The centralspace was surroundedon all sides by streetspaved with blocksof selce, thoughthat on the westlay at a higherlevel on the terracebehind theRostra of Augustus. The presentCloaca Maximaand theother great sewers connected withit werebuilt at thistime and formeda part of the extensive systemestablished by Agrippa. The buildingserected at this level in the Forum propershow but few traces of the earlier,or religious,orientation. It was, however,retained in the group of monumentsbelonging to the precinctof Vesta and in the neighbouringshrine of Juturna,while it is traceablealso in the regionof the Comitium,in the frontline ofthe Mamertine prison. The period to which the creationof the new Forum at this level is to be assignedis that of Augustus. This is clear not only fromthe Augustanmonuments on everyside of it, all ofwhich have beenbuilt or rebuiltat thislevel, but alsofrom the structural relation of the centralarea itself to the remainsof the Republicanand Julianl periodsbelow it. The typeof constructionis, moreover,that of the Augustanperiod, as well as the materialsused.5 In additionto thisindirect evidence, we havethe direct testimony of an inscription of Lucius NaeviusSurdinus preserved on the travertineslabs of the pavement,which is assignedto the sameperiod. The periodof the Comitiumat this level is renderedno less certainby its agreementin typeof constructioiwith the adjoining 1 For the porticus Jtilia,see Van De)eman,The ' Servius,ad Aens.viii, 36, 3. Porticusof Gaius and Lucliuts,A.7.A. 1913, J4-28. 5 For the materialsand methods of construction of the Augustan period, see Vani Deman, Mlletbods 2 Cicero, de N.D. 34, 13- of Deternsiningthe Date of Rossan Csncrete ellonu- 3 Pliny,N.H. ii, 93. isnents,AJ.A. I912, 387-396. This content downloaded from 169.229.32.138 on Fri, 9 May 2014 13:11:01 PM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions THE SULLAN FORUM. 3 Forum,as well as by the remainsof the CuriaJulia of the Augustan period,which are still in parttraceable. At differentlevels below the remainsof the AugustanForum, a confusedtangle of wallshas been broughtto lightin the course of the modernexcavations.l No officialreports of theseexcavations as a wholehave been publishedas yet. A briefoutline, therefore, of the principal data which have been established,especially along the lines of level,orientation and construction,may be of assistancein the interpretationof the remainsat presentunder discussion. Below the travertinepavement, which, as has been said, has been adopted as a convenientpoint of reference,there have been foundthree, if not four,distinct levels, which are clearlymarked by the existenceof structuralremains. 1 These remains,which, in the Forumproper, include fragmentary pavements at eachiof the tlhree moreimportant levels, are furtherdistinguishable by a changein orientation,as well as by a noticeabledifference in materialsand methodsof construction.The Comitiumalso revealsa like series of elevations. Accordingto the officialreports, 2 based upon a stratigraphicalexamination of the area at a numberof points, twenty-threedistinct strata were found, four (or possibly five) of which may be acceptedas markingclearly defined levels. These levels, which are distinguishedby the presenceof undoubtedstructural remains,especially of pavementsor beds forpavements, agree with thoseof the neighbouringForum not onlyin numberbut also in elevation. The Comitium,-unlike the Forum, maintained its original religiousorientation until a verylate period. The monumentsat the variouslevels differ, however, greatly in materialsand methods of construction. Beneaththe earliestfixed level, which, as will be shownlater, was io-6oto io090 m. a. s.1. (see plan II), onlyscanty remains have been found. Accordingto the testimonyof geologyas well as tradition, the centreof the valleywas originallya swamp. Its generalsite has been fixedapproximately by the excavationsin 1904 near the concretefoundations of the equestrianstatue of Domitian.
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