THE FORUM, ROM E. "High towers, fair temples, goodly theatres, All these, oh, pity! now are turned to dust,, And overgrown with black oblivious rust." SPENCER. WHETHER forums, amongst the ancients, were mere market-places, or devoted to civil purposes, or to both in combination, they appear to have constituted a necessary part of every great city; and the history of every country in Italy is literally identified with that of its forum, or public square. The Roman forum, coeval with the city, is connected with all the glory and shame of Rome. Circumscribed, by the invasion of numerous and magnificent public buildings, upon an originally limited area, it was hallowed by the performance of religious rites, consecrated by auguries and omens, and rendered memorable by acts of patriotism. A spot so sacred must necessarily have been visited on a number of occasions, and when Rome became the capital of the world, her vast population had far outgrown the dimensions of that space which the founder had prescribed to his little band of adventurers. Julius Cæsar, ever considerate for the comforts of the people, and scrupulously respectful to their prejudices and superstitions, granted a second forum for the city's accommodation, declaring, at the same time, that the great area should retain its pre-eminence and dignity inviolate. The Julian forum is believed to have been opened and adorned at an expense of nine hundred thousand pounds; and a temple to Venus the Victorious, constituted its most splendid architectural decoration. Imitating the popular example of his predecessor, Augustus caused a forum to be thrown open at his expense, and dedicated in his name. A splendid portico enclosed the space on either side, and the grand vista was terminated by a temple to Mars the Avenger. Beneath one of the long-drawn colonnades stood the kings of Latium and of Rome, from Pius Æneas, down to Tarquin the Proud; while the heroes of the Roman republic, dressed in their triumphal costume, filled the corresponding pedestals, or niches, in the other; and here the history of the Roman people might be collected, from the inscription on each pedestal, setting forth the services of the individual to his country. The statue of the founder occupied the centre of the area; and Pliny describes the forum of Augustus as "the fairest work that ever was executed." Nerva is said to have excelled his rivals in the costliness and extravagance of the forum which he erected, but neither its history nor its ruins have survived, to establish his claim. More fortunate in these respects, was the Trajani forum, of which Apollodorus was the architect. The design consisted of four porticoes, |