The Roman Provincial Forum is an archaeological area in

Mérida, Spain Mérida () is a city and municipality of Spain, part of the Province of Badajoz, and capital of the autonomous community of Extremadura. Located in the western-central part of the Iberian Peninsula at 217 metres above sea level, the city is crosse ...

, built in the 1st century AD. It was a public area of the Roman city of

Emerita Augusta Emerita may refer to: * ''Emerita'' (crustacean), a genus of crustaceans * Emerita Augusta, an ancient city of Spain * Saint Emerita, 3rd-century martyr; see Digna and Emerita * Emerita, the feminine form of the adjective "emeritus ''Emeritus' ...

, founded in 25 BC. The title of "provincial" came from the city's role as the capital of the province of Lusitania. Together with the

Roman Forum The Roman Forum, also known by its Latin name Forum Romanum ( it, Foro Romano), is a rectangular forum (plaza) surrounded by the ruins of several important ancient government buildings at the center of the city of Rome. Citizens of the ancient ...

and other Roman edifices in the city, it was inscribed in the

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...

World Heritage List A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the UNESCO, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNES ...

in 1993. The temple received a massive marble decoration during the reign of the emperor

Claudius Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (; 1 August 10 BC – 13 October AD 54) was the fourth Roman emperor, ruling from AD 41 to 54. A member of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, Claudius was born to Nero Claudius Drusus, Drusu ...

Description

The Forum consisted of a large square sided by a monumental portico, with a large temple in the center, which was accessed through the Arch of Trajan. Edifices included: *triumphal Arch of Tiberius, situated at the end of the ''

cardo maximus A cardo (plural ''cardines'') was a north–south street in Ancient Roman cities and military castra, camps as an integral component of city planning. The cardo maximus, or most often the ''cardo'', was the main or central north–south-oriented ...

'' (the main road of Emerita Augusta). Built of granite, it is 13.97 m. It was originally covered with marble. *a temple built under the reign of

Tiberius Tiberius Julius Caesar Augustus (; 16 November 42 BC – 16 March AD 37) was the second Roman emperor. He reigned from AD 14 until 37, succeeding his stepfather, the first Roman emperor Augustus. Tiberius was born in Rome in 42 BC. His father ...

External links

Official Mérida webpage
{{DEFAULTSORT:Roman Provincial Forum (Merida) Merida Provincial Forum, Mérida Provincial Roman Forum, Provincial Roman Forum, Provincial Buildings and structures completed in the 1st century 1st-century establishments in the Roman Empire Roman Forum, Provincial