The Basilica Fulvia was a
basilica
In Ancient Roman architecture, a basilica is a large public building with multiple functions, typically built alongside the town's forum. The basilica was in the Latin West equivalent to a stoa in the Greek East. The building gave its name ...
built in ancient
Rome
, established_title = Founded
, established_date = 753 BC
, founder = King Romulus (legendary)
, image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg
, map_caption ...
. According to
Livy
Titus Livius (; 59 BC – AD 17), known in English as Livy ( ), was a Ancient Rome, Roman historian. He wrote a monumental history of Rome and the Roman people, titled , covering the period from the earliest legends of Rome before the traditiona ...
(40.51), the
censors
M. Aemilius Lepidus and
M. Fulvius Nobilior (after whom it was named) had it built in 179 BC. It may be that there had been a previous building existing on the site from 210 BC which was incorporated (Plaut. ''Capt''. 815, ''Curc''. 472). In 78 BC, the
consul
Consul (abbrev. ''cos.''; Latin plural ''consules'') was the title of one of the two chief magistrates of the Roman Republic, and subsequently also an important title under the Roman Empire. The title was used in other European city-states throug ...
M. Aemilius Lepidus incorporated the building into the
Basilica Aemilia (Plin. ''Nat. Hist.'' 35.13), and it was renamed the ''Basilica Fulvia et Aemilia'' or sometimes simply the Basilica.
Remains
The Basilica Aemilia was first built in 179 BC by the censors M. Aemilius Lepidus and M. Fulvius Nobilior. In the following centuries it was actively maintained and improved by the
Aemilia gens
The gens Aemilia, originally written Aimilia, was one of the greatest patrician families at ancient Rome. The gens was of great antiquity, and claimed descent from Numa Pompilius, the second King of Rome. Its members held the highest offices o ...
. The first complete reconstruction took place in the years between 55 BC and 34 BC, which incorporated into the building the series of shops, the ''tabernae novae'', that stood in front of the basilica. The building was destroyed by a fire in 14 BC and was rebuilt by
Augustus
Caesar Augustus (born Gaius Octavius; 23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14), also known as Octavian, was the first Roman emperor; he reigned from 27 BC until his death in AD 14. He is known for being the founder of the Roman Pri ...
. A last restoration happened after a fire in AD 410, following the sacking of the town by the Visigoths of Alaric.
[This site was used for The Remains: http://sights.seindal.dk/sight/157_Basilica_Aemilia.html]
See also
*
List of Roman basilicas
A basilica in Ancient Rome was a large public building where business or legal matters could be transacted.
Origins
In ancient Italy, basilicas began as large, covered buildings near city centers, adjacent to the forum, often at the opposite end ...
References
Fulvia
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