Forum venalium

Aforum venalium(pl.fora venalium) was a food market in AncientRomeduring theRoman RepublicandRoman Empire.These mercantile fora were extensions of theRoman Forumand contained numerous buildings and monuments erected under the Republic and the Empire.

In hisPolitics,Aristotleproposed that a city should have both afreesquare in which "no mechanic or farmer or anyone else like that may be admitted unless summoned by the authorities" and a marketplace "where buying and selling are done... in a separate place, conveniently situated for all goods sent up from the sea and brought in from the country."

The Roman Forum was originally used for athletic games and trading purposes of all kinds; however, the forum became a political and banking center where bankers and brokers had their offices. Theforum civilium(judicial) andfora venalium(mercantile) came into existence under the empire because of the growth of the city and the increase in provincial business.Maenius,one of theCensors,was chiefly instrumental in bringing about these changes.

The smallerfora venaliathat specialized by type of produce were started along theTiber,nearPort Tibernius,with theSuariumat the foot of theQuirinal Hilltowards theCampus Martius.TheBoarium Forumfor cattle, Forum Cuppedinis fordelicatessen,Forum Holitorium(cabbage market) for vegetables, Forum Suarium for pork,Forum Piscariumfor fish,Pistorium Forumfor bread, andForum Vinariumfor wine.

The Roman Forum, and the Fora ofCaesarandAugustuswerefora civilia.

External links

• Carlo del Balzo."Roma".Archived fromthe originalon 2008-05-16.Retrieved18 September2009.
• "Lacus Curtius - Civil and trading fora of ancient Rome".