Curia Hostilia

Curia Hostilia

Coordinates: 41°53′35″N 12°29′07″E / 41.89306°N 12.48528°E / 41.89306; 12.48528


Curia Hostilia
Curia Hostilia in red with the Republican Comitium diagram
Curia Hostilia in red with the Republican Comitium diagram
Location Region VIII Forum Romanum
Built in 7th century BC
Built by/for Tullus Hostilius
Type of structure Government building
Related articles None.
Blue pog.svg
Curia Hostilia
These articles cover the Ancient Roman Comitium of the Republican era
Structures- Rostra, Curia Hostilia, Curia Julia, Lapis Niger, Temple of Felicitas
Politicians- Cicero, Gaius Gracchus, Julius Caesar
Assemblies- Roman Senate, comitia curiata

The Curia Hostilia was one of the original senate houses or 'curia' of the Roman Republic. It is believed to have begun as an Etruscan temple where the warring tribes laid down their arms during the reign of Romulus (r. ca. 771–717 BC). During the early kingdom, the temple was for the use of the Senators who acted as council to the king. Tullus Hostilius (r. 673–641 BC) is believed to have replaced the original structure after fire destroyed the converted temple. It may have held historic significance as the location of an Etruscan mundus and altar. The Lapis Niger, a series of large black marble slabs, was placed over the altar, known as the Volcanal, where a series of monuments, was found opposite the Rostra. It was demolished in 80 BC by Lucius Cornelius Sulla during his renovations of the comitium and enlargement of the Curia.

Contents

History

There has been a meeting house for the people of Rome through most of Rome's history. There may have been a small shrine to the god Vulcan from an even earlier period, a stone altar with a marble stele inscribed with a dedication from a Latin King. An Honorary column was also among the tightly packed items. This spot was separated from the rest of the comitium with a low rising concrete fence to keep pedestrians from walking atop it.

The Curia Hostilia architecture had changed a number of times, but maintained its original even after a number of refurbishments. The structure was where all of Rome's early political life centered. It is said that the public was always allowed to stroll into the Curia Hostilia to listen to the senators debate.

Relatively little is known about the Curia Hostilia. One feature of the Curia that is mentioned in almost all sources is the "Tabula Valeria," a painting on the exterior of the Curia’s western wall. It depicted the victory of Manius Valerius Maximus Corvinus Messalla over Hiero and the Carthaginians in 263 BC. Pliny says that the painting was the first such picture in Rome.[1]

Another detail that most sources agree on is that the Curia Hostilia was located on the north side of the Comitium.[2] It is believed that the circular set of stairs of the Comitium, which also doubled as seating for citizens listening to speakers at the Rostra, led up to the Curia's entrance. With regard to the Curia’s location, Stambaugh writes, "[T]he Curia Hostilia was built on rising ground so as to dominate the whole space of the Forum Romanum".[3] Given its prominent place in the Forum, it seems that the Curia Hostilia was a symbol of the strength of the Roman Republic.

The original Etruscan Temple was probably used as the meeting place of the separate tribes of the seven hills. It may have had only two columns and an open portico. It is believed the temple was converted by bricking up the front portico creating an anteroom. There may have been a balcony created above this space with an opening for public viewing but little is known about exactly what the rebuild may have looked like exactly, however it is believed the exterior may well have looked almost exactly the same as the Curia Julia as the classic lines of the simple structure match the lines of the Etruscan Temple.

The building was demolished in 80 BC under Lucius Cornelius Sulla to enlarge the curia and accommodate an increase in the number of senators. It was replaced with the Curia Cornelia, located in almost the same space. This structure was in turn replaced by the Curia Julia started by Julius Caesar and finished by Emperor Augustus.

Works cited

  • Aicher, Peter J. Rome Alive: A Source-Guide to the Ancient City. Wauconda, Illinois: Bolchazy-Carducci, 2004, ISBN 978-0865164734
  • Claridge, Amanda. Rome. An Oxford Archaeological Guide. New York: Oxford University Press, 1998, ISBN 978-0192880031
  • Platner, Samuel Ball and Thomas Ashby (ed.). A Topographical Dictionary of Ancient Rome. London: Oxford University Press, 1929.
  • Stambaugh, John E. The Ancient Roman City. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1988.
  • Richardson, Lawrence. A New Topographical Dictionary of Ancient Rome. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1992.
  • University of California. Digital Roman Forum. Retrieved 10 March 2007. University of California, Los Angeles, 2005.
  • http://dlib.etc.ucla.edu/projects/Forum

References

  1. ^ Richardson 1992, p. 102
  2. ^ Platner and Ashby 1929, p. 142
  3. ^ Stambaugh 1988, p. 109

External links


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