Basilica Julia and the Temple of Divus Augustus were two monumental structures situated near one another in the valley of the Roman Forum. At present, the remains of Basilica Julia contain some fragments of the floors and a column from its initial construction; Temple of Divus Augustus’ remains are unavailable. Both buildings were created as important buildings for Roman political and economic life, as well as they were commemorating the figures of great emperors Julius Caesar and Augustus.
Basilica Julia or Iulia was a grand construction in the Roman Forum, a place of the active political, economic, and social life of Romans. According to Coarelli (2007), the construction of the basilica started around 54 BC by Caesar and was finished by Augustus. The building occupied the place of the former basilica, Basilica Sempronia, but was significantly larger than the previous constructions. Historians state that when the project was being planned, the demolishing of shops and buildings near Basilica Sempronia was required to build Basilica Julia (Coarelli, 2007). The size of the new basilica was 101 meters long and 49 meters wide; it had a rectangular form built with stone, bricks, and decorated with marble. As Claridge et al. (2010) note, the internal piers are made of travertine with a marble veneer. The outer two-stories-high aisles “were paved in white marble … with an upper gallery at first-floor level” (Claridge et al., 2010, p. 89). Soon after the ending of the construction by Augustus, Basilica Julia was destroyed in a fire of 9 BC (Claridge et al., 2010). However, it was later reconstructed for further functioning.
The building of the basilica played a very important role in the life of Romans. It was situated between the two temples between the principal streets Vicus Iugarius and Vicus Tuscus, the main streets of the Forum (Coarelli, 2007). Basilica Julia was used as a place for political meetings, as well as it was used for other significant events in the Roman Empire. Indeed, as Claridge et al. (2010) state, the building was the “seat of the Court of the Hundred, a special civil court” that resolved issues of inheritance and included 180 judges (pp. 89-90). Overall, the great Basilica Julia was one of the key structures in Rome.
Temple of Divus Augustus was situated not far behind Basilica Julia and was another important building among others of the Forum. As the title implies, the building was dedicated to Augustus and was constructed in the place of the first house where he lived before he became an important figure of the Roman public life (Claridge et al., 2010). It was originally built by Tiberius and finished by Caligula around the first century BC (Coarelli, 2007). Historians state that the construction started at the time of Augustus’ death in 14 BC and had been destroyed in a fire in 37 BC before the construction was finished; in the 150s, it was reconstructed (Claridge et al., 2010). The building was an important and major building near the main streets of the Forum. It was a significant site for the spiritual life of Romans since it commemorated an important figure in the Empire’s political life.
In conclusion, Basilica Julia and the Temple of Divus Augustus were major buildings in the Roman Forum during the time of the Roman Empire. They occupied principal locations along the main streets for the Forum and played a significant role in the life of Romans. Constructed with meticulous architectural techniques, they commemorated key figures in Roman history and were used as major sites for political and judicial events.
References
Claridge, A., Toms, J., & Cubberley, T. (2010). Rome: An Oxford archaeological guide. Oxford University Press.
Coarelli, F. (2007). Rome and environs: An archaeological guide. University of California Press.