Basilica Julia
Originally dedicated by Julius Caesar during 46 B.C.E, the Basilica Julia was used mostly as a court of civil law as well as for sessions for the Centumviri who presided over matters of inheritance. The construction of the Basilica was funded mostly by the spoils if the Gaelic war. The temple was completed by Augustus who named the Basilica after Caesar. Shortly after the Basilica was completed it was burnt down and wasn’t rebuilt for another twenty years. In the first century AD this was undertaken by the Centumviri, or Court of the Hundred whose purpose was to preside primarily over court matters involving inheritance.
The basilica housed the civil law courts and tabernae provided space for government offices and banking. The basilica also housed public meeting places and shops. The basilica was the largest at the Forum Romanum measuring 101 metres by 49 metres in size. The central hall was 82 metres by 18 metres. During Republican times the Basilica, as with most other basilicas in the Forum, was not used as a religious site. It was more used as a public gathering place. Because of this the Basilica Julia became a favoured place of meeting for the citizens of Rome during it short life. Vitruvius proposed guidelines for the construction of Basilicas within the Forum; “The Basilica should be situated adjoining the forum on the warmest side, so that the merchants may assemble there in winter, without being inconvenienced by the cold." The Basilica was located in the Roman Forum on the southern side of the Forum therefore facing the north and therefore fulfilling the requirements of Vitruvius’ guidelines.
The basilica housed the civil law courts and tabernae provided space for government offices and banking. The basilica also housed public meeting places and shops. The basilica was the largest at the Forum Romanum measuring 101 metres by 49 metres in size. The central hall was 82 metres by 18 metres. During Republican times the Basilica, as with most other basilicas in the Forum, was not used as a religious site. It was more used as a public gathering place. Because of this the Basilica Julia became a favoured place of meeting for the citizens of Rome during it short life. Vitruvius proposed guidelines for the construction of Basilicas within the Forum; “The Basilica should be situated adjoining the forum on the warmest side, so that the merchants may assemble there in winter, without being inconvenienced by the cold." The Basilica was located in the Roman Forum on the southern side of the Forum therefore facing the north and therefore fulfilling the requirements of Vitruvius’ guidelines.
Purpose and Features
The Basilica Julia was named after the Roman dictator Gaius Julius Caesar. Because of this we can draw conclusions about what the purpose of the Basilica was. Being named after a ruler suggests that the Basilica may have been used as a political handhold among the people of Rome. The Basilica Julia was used by the people as a site of gathering, commerce and as a court of law. Therefore we can speculate that Caesar commissioned this Basilica with the intentions of persuading the people of Rome to support him with his conquests and views on how society should be run. However the Basilica Julia would have no such part in Julius Caesar’s reign as he died before construction was finished. The Basilica was completed by Augustus Caesar, the adopted son of Julius. Augustus claimed to be a direct descendant of Julius though and by completing the Basilica he was carrying on Julius’ legacy and his hold on the people of Rome. The people of Rome may have seen Augustus as a virtuous and honest leader because he completed Julius’ work.
The Basilica Julia was a place for the community to congregate and be social, away from the poor outside weather (especially in winter). We can, therefore speculate on another conclusion about the political purpose of the Basilica. Perhaps Julius intended it to be used to get closer to his people so they could feel as though he was a good leader because Julius is making the effort to connect with them. Sneaky, sneaky Caesar…
Questions
1) How could the Basilica be seen to have been a political building even though no government was held here? (1-2 paragraphs. 3 if you feel like writing lots)
2) What was the Basilica primarily used for? (1 paragraph)
2) What was the Basilica primarily used for? (1 paragraph)
Websites used
http://archive1.village.virginia.edu/spw4s/RomanForum/GoogleEarth/AK_GE/AK_HTML/CB-005.html
http://intranet.grundel.nl/thinkquest/basilica_julia.html
https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=it&u=https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_Giulia&prev=search
http://sights.seindal.dk/sight/165_Basilica_Julia.html
http://www.vitruvius.be/julia.htm
http://intranet.grundel.nl/thinkquest/basilica_julia.html
https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=it&u=https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_Giulia&prev=search
http://sights.seindal.dk/sight/165_Basilica_Julia.html
http://www.vitruvius.be/julia.htm