Imperial fora

The Imperial Forums are a number of extensions of the Roman Forum to the north and east that were made towards the end of the Roman Republic and the early Empire and named after their builders.

The complex of four Imperial Forums ( Forum of Caesar, Forum of Augustus, Forum of Nerva and Trajan's Forum or Transitorium ) arose from the need to adapt to the increased demands the former center of politics and administration of the city and state and significantly expand. In addition, the desire for a grander and nobler appearance of the board was at this time loudly.

Gaius Julius Caesar was from 54 to expand BC as the first ancient city center with a new forum, which was right on the Old marginalized and at the foot of Capitol Hill. This forum was later given the name of the emperor Forum Iulium. It had an elongated rectangular shape, as was customary at public places in Greece, and was moved on three sides with porticos; at the back stood a temple.

Some fifty years later, Augustus added according to the same schema to an expansion in the east of Caesar Forum, which also took about the same area. From the district of Subura it was separated by a high wall to protect it from there regularly erupting fires.

71-74 Emperor Vespasian after his triumph in the Jewish war near the Forum of Augustus built a temple of peace in which the captured from the temple of Jerusalem riches were stored. The large square in front of this temple resembled a forum court very much, and than later Emperor Domitian on the remaining free area between the Forum of Augustus and the temple a new forum docked, a single complex was formed. This new forum is named after the Emperor Nerva, as he had opened it 97, or even Transitorium, because of its connecting function.

However, added the Emperor Trajan in the years 107 to 112 to another forum. Since the area available was not sufficient, various buildings and monuments were demolished and even the hills that connected the Capitol with the Quirinal removed. Thus was a connection between the old board and the old city and the new, which was now on the Mars field, created. The Forum of Trajan was the last and also the most impressive Roman Forum.