Forum

• The Pompeian Forum was located where the main roads of Naples, Nola and Stabiae met.

• The Forum was constructed in such a way so that Mount Vesuvius would dominate its central axis, uniting the two landmarks of the ancient town as one.

• However, the Forum did not adhere exactly to Roman architect Vitruvius’ ideal designs for the forum and went ahead with other methods of construction.

• It underwent a number of modifications during the town’s history and at the time of the eruption, according to the latest evidence, was undergoing a comprehensive vigorous and ambitious post-earthquake restoration. According to the research findings, it proved to be a successful town project and mirrored the resilience and strength of the people after the incident.

The Forum at Pompeii now and a reconstructed view

• Until the second century BC, the Forum of Pompeii seemed to be primarily a marketplace . After this time, law courts, porticoes and buildings of political and religious importance were built. This expanded the uses of the Forum and also the capacity of people visiting the area.

• On any day of the week, the Forum and surrounding streets would have been filled with the lively bustle of shopkeepers and stallholders, merchants, moneychangers, customers, teachers and students, people wishing to pick up news or hear the latest gossip, as well as those attending law courts or holding political office.

• As the city of Pompeii advanced in its importance, the Forum remained the centre of social, economic, political and religious life.

• The Forum was the only area of Pompeii where there were underground drains.

• The Forum buildings, roofed in red terracotta tiles, were brightly coloured, as were the statues that surrounded them.

The Triangular Forum - Pompeii

• Where is the Triangular Forum situated?

• What buildings are nearby?

• Describe the Triangular Forum.

• What do you think its uses might have been?

Go to the Triangular Forum at Pompeii in Pictures

(from Guide to the Site p.117)

"The triangular open space was included in the fundamentally coherent urban scheme applied to the whole district of the theatres during the second century BC. It is situated on the southern extremity of the lava mass on which Pompeii developed, overlooking the sea and the Sarno river. A majestic gateway with ionic columns opens onto the forum, which is surrounded on three sides by a doric colonnade, the southern side being left open for its splendid panorama. The whole cultural and religious complex, comprising the forum, theatres and three temples (Doric, of Isis and of Zeus Meilichios), is more Hellenistic in appearance than Italic, and it may be no coincidence that it is situated on the edge of what was in origin an Italic city."

The Forum in Herculaneum

The Herculaneum Forum is still buried under the town of Resina. It is believed to lie just beyond the north-west corner of the excavated area. Buildings nearby suggest this: the College of the Augustales, the Basilica Noniana and triumphal arch.

Summary.

Forum

• Buildings associated with administration, religion and commerce were clustered around or near the Forum which was the chief meeting and trading place in the town.

• In Pompeii, the Forum was located were the main roads from Naples, Nola and Stabiae met

• “because our ancestors handed down to us the custom of holding gladiatorial combats there; the columns must therefore be more widely spaced to allow a good view…the width will be two-thirds of the length, the shape thus being rectangular, a more convenient proportion for shows” Vitruvius

• “under the porticoes, the money-changers’ stalls, and above, galleries…. [the dimensions had to] be proportionate to the size of the population, otherwise there will be a shortage of space, or the forum, too scantily filled, will look empty. The columns of the upper storey will be one-third less in height than those below, which being more heavily laden must be stronger” Vitruvius

• Rectangular paved area 40m wide and 150m long.

  • Features about 40 statues of leading citizens and the imperial family

  • At time of eruption was undergoing a comprehensive, vigorous and ambitious post-earthquake restoration

• Closed to wheeled traffic

  • Access barred by large rectangular blocks fitted solidly in the ground

  • Also evidence that the area could be closed off by grilled gates during certain events

  • Deep wheel ruts on surrounding roads, attest to the amount of traffic focused on the Forum

• Network of drains in the forum- drainage water flowed down the streets to an outlet outside the walls

• Any day of the week the forum was busy—market day, however would have been filled with the lively bustle of shopkeepers and stall- holders, merchants, money-changers, customers, teachers and students and those attending the law courts of holding political office

  • Frieze in the House of Julia Felix- depicts aspects of life in the Forum

• Forum buildings were roofed in red terracotta tiles

• Pompeian people covered the Forum walls, particularly the Basilica with painted notices “in vivid colors and large letter, the better to draw attention” M. Brion

Practice question: What does the Forum reveal about life in Pompeii?