Location and Construction

The Forum of Domitian and the surrounding area.

The Forum was constructed in the long, narrow passage connecting the Subura to the Forum Romanum. In fact, this passage was originally the ancient road known as the Via Argiletum, and prior to the construction of the Forum, the Cloaca brook, which supplied water to the sewer system of ancient Rome, was buried beneath it. When Domitian built his Forum, he routed this brook into a culvert. The shrine at one end to Janus Quadrifrons, the god of crossroads, perpetuated the memory of the old street. The material was probably marmor lunense, white marble, from Luni (near Carrera). The exact sequence and chronology of the building phases are unclear and would require further excavation.

It is difficult to determine exactly when in Domitian’s 81-96 CE reign construction began, although Martial mentions the Forum as a landmark as early as 85-86 CE. However, it is clear that it was part of the city-wide building program Domitian began in response to the fire in 80 CE, and it is clear that the Forum’s stress on morality was a widespread theme amongst these projects. The Forum is placed in proximity to many of Domitian’s other building projects stressing moral virtue (particularly amongst women): the Temple of Minerva and the Temple of Semo Sancus Dius Fidius, housing a statue of Tanaquil, on the Quirinal, and the shrine of Pudicitia Plebeia, the Temple of Fortunae Bonae Spei, and cults of Febris and Diana Plancianae on the neighboring Vicus Longus.

What’s more, it is evident that the Forum was placed deliberately to emphasize Domitian’s accomplishments. It lies in the midst of the other imperial Fora, likely placed with the goal of either equaling or outshining Domitian’s predecessors.

BR