The Forum Romanum was ancient Rome's
downtown. Throughout the Republic, the Forum was the epicenter of the Roman
government. Citizens voted in the Forum, the Senate met in the Forum,
trials were held in the Forum, and speeches were given.
Under Caesar's rule, much of the Forum was
rebuilt. Though he ruled Rome as a dictator, he concentrated on rebuilding
and remodeling those structures most directly connected to the workings of the
Roman Republic. He began to rebuild the Curia or Senate House, which had
been destroyed by fire in 52 BC. Caesar also reorganized the Comitium, the
place where Roman citizens met to discuss issues and to vote. He moved and
rebuilt the Rostra, the speaker's platform, from which political speeches and
public announcements were broadcast to the city. And, he began to build an
enormous building called the Basilica Julia, a law court.
Though none of these public works were
completed when Caesar died, we can still imagine that by restoring these
monuments associated with Republican rule, Caesar sought to reassure the Romans
that he was likewise restoring the disintegrating Republican system of
government.
