 A map of theForum Holitorium, with the outline of theTheatre of Marcellus at the top left, drawn byRodolfo Lanciani between 1893 and 1901 on the basis of theForma Urbis Romae. | |
   Forum Holitorium Shown within Augustan Rome | |
 Click on the map for a fullscreen view | |
| Location | Rome,Italy |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 41°53′28″N12°28′48″E / 41.891111111111°N 12.48°E /41.891111111111; 12.48 |
| History | |
| Periods | 5th century BC |
| Cultures | Ancient Rome |
TheForum Holitorium orOlitorium (Latin for the "Market of the Vegetable Sellers";Italian:Foro Olitorio) is an archaeological area ofRome, Italy, on the slopes of theCapitoline Hill. It was located outside theCarmental Gate in theCampus Martius, crowded between the cattle market (Forum Boarium) and buildings located in theCircus Flaminius.[1]
In ancient times, it was the fruit and vegetable market, while the area of the adjacent Forum Boarium served as a meat market. At its northern end were thetemples of Bellona, goddess of war, andApollo Medicus. It also included a sacred area with three small temples dedicated toJanus,Spes, andJuno Sospita.
The construction of the sacred area of the forum dates back to theRepublican age, more precisely to the period between thefirst and theSecond Punic War. Subsequently, at the time ofCaesar (1st century BC), it underwent renovations which involved the demolition of a fourth temple: it was built byManius Acilius Glabrio (consul in191 BC) next to the Temple of Janus and was demolished during the construction of theTheatre of Marcellus (then completed byAugustus). The temple was dedicated to the worship ofDiana.
The staircases of the three temples were not aligned, which confirms the absence of uniform town-planning criteria during the Republican age. Their construction limited the area of the market, which previously might have extended up to theTiber.
These temples are now part of the structure of theBasilica of San Nicola in Carcere, first attested in the11th centuryLiber Pontificalis.
The Temple of Janus was the one located on the right and the closest to the Theatre of Marcellus. Built byGaius Duilius at the time of the First Punic War, it was restored inAD 17 byTiberius.
It was aperipteros templesine postìcum (with columns on three sides), with eighttuff (peperino) columns on the long sides and six on the front (hexastyle), covered withstucco and raised on a low podium with elegant shaping.
The Temple of Spes (Latin:Aedes Spei) was located on the left, in opposition to the Temple of Janus. It was built byAulus Atilius Calatinus, at the time of the First Punic War as well; it was restored in232 BC and rebuilt after the fire of213 BC,[2] which also destroyed the temples ofSant'Omobono Area;[3] finally it was restored inAD 17 byGermanicus Julius Caesar.
It was a peripterosdoric temple with six columns on the front and eleven on the long side; the columns were made of rawtravertine and covered with stucco to simulate the appearance of marble. It measured 25 metres (82 ft) in length and 11 metres (36 ft) in width.
Six columns of the temple with theirarchitrave still exist, incorporated in the left side of the church of San Nicola.
The temple of Juno Sospita was located between the temple of Spes and that of Janus: on its ruins, towards the end of the11th century, the current church was founded.
Built around195 BC byGaius Cornelius Cethegus, it was a peripterosionic temple, with six columns on the facade, three rows of columns on the front side and two on the back side. A travertine staircase, the same which is still used today to access the church, led to thepronaos of the temple. It was the largest of the three, since it measured 30 metres (98 ft) in length and 15 metres (49 ft) in width, as well as the tallest one, as can be seen by comparing the preserved columns of each of the temples. The present structure is due to the restoration commissioned by a certain Caecilia Metella in90 BC.
The remains of the temple are the basement, which can be visited inside the church, and three columns incorporated into the facade, one of which has nocapital; these columns were still visible in their original state before the facade was rebuilt. Other remains, such as some columns, are visible inside the church.
Media related toForum Holitorium at Wikimedia Commons
| Preceded by Forum Boarium | Landmarks of Rome Forum Holitorium | Succeeded by Basilica Argentaria |
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