Rome Imperial Fora Print

Rome Imperial Fora The Forum was the religious, civic, and commercial centre of ancient Rome. After the time of Julius Caesar, though it became more imposing, it was only one (albeit the most distinguished) of several complexes serving the same functions. Essentially, it was a small closed valley ringed by the Seven Hills. There were two meeting places, formal open spaces, in the northwest corner—the political Comitium and the social Forum (the name later applied to the entire valley)—with shops down both sides. At the other end of the valley was the precinct of the high priest of Roman religion and that of the Vestals, the keepers of the sacred flame. Between these two were the temples of the gods. Various emperors opened up the ends of the valley, and there was more building, but the poles of activity did not alter.