Forum Romanum - Definition


Forum Romanum - Definition

Roman Forum with Palatine Hill in the background.

From a different view

Map of downtown Rome during the Roman Empire, with Forum Holitorium and Forum Boarium shown at bottom middle

The Roman Forum (Forum Romanum) was a central area of ancient Rome in which commerce, business, trading and the administration of justice took place.

It is now famous for the remains, which eloquently show the use of urban spaces during the Roman Age. The term Roman Forum includes all the monuments, buildings and other ancient ruins that were found.

The principal Forum has been identified in the area located between the Capitoline Hill and the Colosseum, but others did exist in other areas of the city.

The Forum Boarium was dedicated to the commerce of cattle and was between the Palatine Hill and the river Tiber.
The Forum Holitorium was dedicated to the commerce of herbs and vegetables, between the Capitoline Hill and the Servian walls.
The Forum Piscarium was dedicated to the commerce of fish, between the Capitoline hill and the Tiber, in the area of the current Roman Ghetto.
The Forum Vinarium was dedicated to the commerce of wine, in the area now of the "quartiere" Testaccio, between Aventine Hill and the Tiber.
Other markets were known, but not correctly identifiable because of either lack of clear information or plurality of sites. Among these, the Forum cuppedinis, for generic commerce of many kinds of goods.