Out time in Rome is quickly running out and the Forum area is our last big excursion. There are six entrances to the Forum. The main entrance is by the colosseum and it is the busiest. We did some searching and found out hat there is an entrance next to the Mamertime Prison where there was no waiting. An added bonus is that from this direction we could visit the complex while moving towards the colosseum exit. These fantastic ruins here are practically on top of each other and so we just strolled along and gawked. This was the warmest day yet and we tried to get there earlier than is our norm. That paid off as it was actually hot when we were nearing the end and we found ourselves darting from shady spot to shady spot.
An elderly guard and his guard house
Passing another giant Roman building
Our tour begins with the Arch of Septimius Severus
The Mamertime Prison overlooks us
The Temple of Saturn on our other side
Up the hill we see the back of the Capitoline museums
This single repurposed column had the statue of Emperor Phocas on top of it. However that lasted for only two years before he was deposed and killed and his statue was pulled down.
Some reconstructed columns
There was an open raised area that the Romans called the rostrum where speakers could stand and be heard
This is the original Roman road, the via Sacra that was the main street. Rome was a city of one million people in its heyday. 50,000 miles of roads were built at that time
Poppies for color
Many columns were interspersed throughout
Up on the hill is another area called the Palatine Hills
The Temple of Antoninus Pius and Faustina was not open as the 50 foot tall columns and staircase did not look all so very stable
The house of the Vestal Virgins. They took a 30 year vow to stay chaste and keep the hearth fire burning in the Temple of Vesta
There was pool
A long row of famous Vestal Virgins
The Palatine Hills were the site of a huge market complex
The only virgin who was able to keep her head on
The Basilica of Constantine the last major construction in this area
The Temple of Vesta which was circular
Not much is left
We opted not to climb up into the Palatine hills in this heat
These columns were part of the facade of the Basilica of Constantine
These huge arches are just the side knaves and on top was one of the roof supports that reached to the other side where there was a matching set of side knaves
The back side of the basilica
A path through to the back of the basilica
This pattern of brick laying helps stabilize buildings from earthquakes
Arches on top of arches
Game tables
This building was awe inspiring
The nubs of very large porphyry columns
A good day for visiting
The bells were ringing
The arch that marks the end of the forum\
A triumphal arch celebrating the victory over Judea in 70 CE
The Arch of Titus was a triumphal arch
When Judea was sacked they took treasures
Scenes of Victory and the enslavement of the Jews
This is a flat hat wearing man
In classic style we stopped to plot the exits while we were right in front of this sign for the exit
We found it
Some arches along the entrance lines for the forum
The line stretches out for as far as we could see
The colosseum is right here
Oof, this is why it is important to do your research
What a zoo!
The arch of Constantine
Shenangains!
Fenced all around to protect the arch
Great decorations
The collosum, note the people on the right for scale
Huge
Too busy here
This little place looks great
The Christmas bow is still up six months later.
Scenes from Italian movies
Pictures of eating
Speaking of eating, spaghetti with the best meatballs yet
Pizza with egg
Scaloppini
