Sunday, April 22, 2007

Roman Forum








Although not many of the original structures remain today, the ancient Roman Forum provides a fantastic insight into the society of the early Roman civilization. Situated in the center of the city, the forum served both a commercial and judicial purpose. Citizens of Rome would gather in this central area to barter goods, make political decisions within the current regime, and socialize with neighbors. When observing the buildings that do survive to this day, one can understand the importance of temples to worship the mythological gods and arches to commemorate a victory in battle. To fully appreciate this ancient site, I advise walking the entire course laid out by the original travertine walkways and newly added railings. However, the Forum is quite popular with the other tourists, so make sure to arrive early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid the mob.
Patrick Lee

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