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 p224  Forum Boarium

Article on pp224‑225 of

Samuel Ball Platner (as completed and revised by Thomas Ashby):
A Topographical Dictionary of Ancient Rome,
London: Oxford University Press, 1929.

Black-and‑white images are from Platner;
any color photos are mine © William P. Thayer.

Forum Boarium: (Bovarium, Cic. pro Scaur. 23; Liv. passim; ἀγορὰ καλουμένη or λεγομένη Βοαρία Dionys. I.40; IV.27; βοῶν ἀγορά Plut. cit.) was, as its name implies, the cattle-market of ancient Rome. It originally extended from the boundary of the Velabrum (later marked by the arcus Septimii Severi and the Janus Quadrifrons) to the Tiber, and from the valley of the circus Maximus to the road leading from the pons Sublicius (or pons Aemilius) towards the Velabrum, but not as far north as the Servian wall (Ov. Fast. VI.477, 478; Varro, LL V.146; id. ap. Macrob. Sat. III.6.10; Propert. IV.9.17; Liv. X.23.3; XXI.62.3; XXII.57.6; XXIV.10.7; XXVII.37.15; XXIX.37.2; XXXIII.27.4; XXXV.40.8; Plin. NH XXVIII.12; xxxiv.10, 33; Tac. Ann. XII.24; Plut. Marcell. 3 (cf. Oros. IV.13.3; Cass. Dio, fr. 47); Fest. 30; Not. app.; Pol. Silv. 545; Aethicus p83, Riese; CIL VI.1035). The first gladiatorial games were held here (Val. Max. II.4.7). See Arcus Septimii Severi (in foro Boario).

In process of time this large open space was greatly encroached upon by buildings; but the name was still applied to the whole district. A bronze statue of a bull (said to have been brought from Aegina) symbolised its purpose, and (according to some authorities) gave it its name. It was an important centre of traffic, and had been so from a remote period; for the original route from the north and east (see Via Flaminia, Via Salaria) came along the Vicus Iugarius or the Vicus Tuscus (q.v.)  p224 on its way to the crossing of the Tiber at the pons Sublicius (or later the pons Aemilius), and here intersected the road which ran from the campus Martius between the Capitol and the river, passing through the porta Carmentalis and the porta Flumentana, and on to the porta Trigemina. The road along the valley of the circus Maximus and the clivus Publicius descending from the Aventine also opened into this narrow level space between the hills and the river. Thus streets, in later days adorned with porticoes, radiated from the forum Boarium in all directions (DAP 2.vi.247‑248).

This crowded area was often devastated by fire. It seems to have lain for the most part within the eleventh region of Augustus, but to have also included a small portion of the eighth.

Two terminal stones (CIL VI.919, 31574), one of the period of Tiberius, the other of Claudius, show that the open space, which was public property, required protection from encroachment, and define the eastern boundary as running along the front of the Templum Herculis Pompeiani (q.v.), which stood in front of the carceres of the circus Maximus.

Of the temples situated in or near the forum Boarium the round temple of Hercules Invictus (q.v.), with the ara Maxima close by it, was the most famous; there were also those of Fortuna, Hercules Pompeianus, Mater Matuta, Portunus, Pudicitia Patricia (qq.v.).

Among other monuments were the two fornices erected by L. Stertinius (q.v.). The Busta Gallica and Doliola (q.v.) were probably primitive tombs, discovered (and misunderstood) in Roman times. See Jord. I.1.238, 412; 2.474‑487; LR 515‑516; DAP 2.vi.231‑275; HJ 143; Pl. 395‑403.


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