10.07.2014
While trying to define “formal” in regard to ancient approach to Rome, it should be said that the city of Rome is very much not the ideal city envisioned by Emperors and their architects in Antiquity. Wherever Romans were building cities from scratch, they were building grid-based urbanities. It could be argued, in that sense, that the attempts to formalise Rome have been made throughout history from the Empire to the rule of the Popes, later monarchs and republicans.
What can be seen as de-formalization, happened to the forum in the 9th century when it was almost completely destroyed with construction of houses on top of it and out of its stone. In 1606 during the reign of Pope Paul V, the only surviving part of the forum - the Temple of Minerva, was demolished to provide materials for Acqua Paola fountain and the Borghese chapel in Santa Maria Maggiore.
.JPG) |
| Santa Maria Maggiore. Photo:MM |
While trying to define “formal” in regard to ancient approach to Rome, it should be said that the city of Rome is very much not the ideal city envisioned by Emperors and their architects in Antiquity. Wherever Romans were building cities from scratch, they were building grid-based urbanities. It could be argued, in that sense, that the attempts to formalise Rome have been made throughout history from the Empire to the rule of the Popes, later monarchs and republicans.
If I take the forums as a key sign of formality during the Empire, it is
interesting to look at the smallest one of all, the Forum of Nerva, squeezed
between two larger forums, one of Augustus and the Forum of Vespasian. The
forum also known as Forum Transitorium was built over the street (Via
Argiletum) which was providing transition between two larger forums and
connecting residential district Subura to the Roman forum. Since the street was
a market for booksellers and cobblers, the long and narrow Forum of Nerva
continued with the same use after it was erected into the urban fabric.
What can be seen as de-formalization, happened to the forum in the 9th century when it was almost completely destroyed with construction of houses on top of it and out of its stone. In 1606 during the reign of Pope Paul V, the only surviving part of the forum - the Temple of Minerva, was demolished to provide materials for Acqua Paola fountain and the Borghese chapel in Santa Maria Maggiore.
.JPG) |
The Borghese Chapel was constructed from
the material of the demolished
Forum of Nerva. Photo:MM
|
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