Forum Romanum

Originally, the area of the later Roman Forum was a swampy valley used as a burial ground. In the early 7th century BC, it was drained under the Etruscan king Lucius Tarquinius Priscus with the construction of the Cloaca Maxima and integrated into the city of Rome. Around 490 BC, the first temples were built, including those for Saturn and Castor, quickly establishing the Forum as the urban center. North of it, the Comitium emerged as the hub of Roman politics, housing the Senate House (Curia) and the Rostra, the public speaker's platform. Political activities shifted back to the Forum, which was extensively expanded and redesigned under Gaius Julius Caesar and later Augustus, including the widespread use of marble. The Roman Imperial period marked the peak of its development, even as later imperial forums were built to complement the Roman Forum. The last ancient structure, the Column of Phocas, was erected in 608 AD. After the decline of the Roman Empire, the Forum fell into oblivion and was used as a quarry during the Renaissance, before initial excavations in the late 18th century began.

The Roman Forum is located in Rome, in the province of Rome, in the Lazio region of Italy. It stands at an elevation of approximately 13 meters above sea level.