FORVM ROMANVM
As they left the magnificent Palatine they joined Clivus Palatinus, a moderate decline past the houses of the elite. From here they joined the Via Sacra, with the temple of Jupiter Stator on the right. They were jostled about in the early morning rush. Musa pointed south east to their right down the Via Sacra where there were many people milling about, Musa informed the young man that many of the upper classes shopped on this street famed for its good trade of Jewels, flowers, fruit and other luxuries (1). The young man wanted to go down and browse at the many goods on offer but Musa led the him in the opposite direction, north-west towards the Roman Forum. They wound their way past the Regia and Temple of Vesta under the Arch of Augustus that spanned the gap between the temple of Castor and the temple of Divus Julius.
They entered into the Roman Forum, the noise was loud and the numbers many. The young man scanned around the forum, many of the buildings were been worked upon. To their left as the entered under the arch was a temple under construction, dust was been thrown up from the many men working on the structure. This was the temple to Castor. To their right there was a new two story porticus, they battled there way towards it past the front of the Temple of Divus Julius the young man could see that the porticus was lavishly decorated and filled with all sorts of shops. Musa told the young man that this was a porticus Augustus had commissioned in honour of his two adopted sons Gaius and Lucius. Pointing back across the forum to a basilica he informed his young companion that Augustus had also re-named that to the basilica Gauis and Lucius, it had previously being called the Basilica Julia. But not many people had taken to the new name. The young man marvelled at the huge two story marble building that swamped almost the whole of that side of the forum, he asked Musa its purpose. Musa informed him that it was a special type of court for the jury of the hundred (the Centumviri) a civil court which dealt with matters of inheritance. The basilica was absolutely packed Musa said that there must have been a trial going to be heard that day as many would go to watch. The young man was eager to do this but Musa denied him once more, determined to get the tour done with so he could go and rest his head.
They walked parallel to the busy portico, Musa pointed out the Rostra, the speakers platform, in the middle to the west side of the forum. He informed the young man that the bronze prows that were visible on it were taken from enemy war ships by Augustus in his victorious battle with Cleopatra at Actium in 31BC. Behind this he could see another temple under construction, Musa told him this was a Temple to Concord. Towering above the whole forum was the Tabularium and Capitol. The young man began to question Musa further but it was just too busy to stop and talk. As they reached the end of the Porticus Gaii et Lucii that backed onto the Basilica Aemilia, they turned right onto the Argiletum, the Curia Julia towered over them on the left. The young man just caught a glimpse of the great bronze doors which were set in the huge marble facade of the Curia Julia. He was straining his neck over the crowds to see when Musa grabbed his companions shoulder for it seemed they were going against the flow of people. Musa then thrust the young man forward into the crowded street, it was filled with all manner of people from traders to Senators. Musa could see the worried expression on the young doctors' face, he comforted him by saying that this was one of the busiest streets in Rome, with one of the most unsavoury reputations (2). Battling through the crowds Musa led the young apprentice to the forum of Augustus
FROM THE PALATINVS MONS HOME TO THE FORVM AVGVSTVM
(1) "Whatever she sees in the Via Sacra boutiques"
Propertius II.24: 14-5
The woman fleeces her clients. There would be many similar characters operating on the Argiletum.