Curia of Pompey

Curia of Pompey
	A 3D reconstruction of the Curia of Pompey
	Curia of Pompey Shown within Rome
Location	Regio IXCircus Flaminius
Coordinates	41°53′42″N12°28′26″E/ 41.895°N 12.474°E
Type	Exedra
History
Builder	Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus
Founded	62 BC

TheCuria of Pompey,sometimes referred to as theCuria Pompeia,^[1]was one of several named meeting halls fromRepublican Romeof historic significance.^[2]Acuriawas a designated structure for meetings of the senate.^[3]The Curia of Pompey was located at the entrance to theTheater of Pompey.

The Curia was attached to the porticus directly behind the theatre section and was a Romanexedra,with a curved back wall and several levels of seating.^[1]InA New Topographical Dictionary of Ancient Romeby L. Richardson, Jr., Richardson states that after Caesar's murder,Augustus Caesarremoved the large statue of Pompey and had the hall walled up. Richardson citedSuetoniusthat it was later made into a latrine, as stated byCassius Dio.^[4]

History

In 55 BC,Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus(Pompey the Great) dedicated the opening of the largest theater in the ancient world before its full completion. Built from the profits of his war campaigns, the structure was a political statement meant to raise the status of the Roman general and consul, as well as to memorialize his achievements throughout his career. That would be copied later by the Roman emperors when they created their own imperial forums.

The full structure consisted of a large theater section, incorporating a temple, apulpitumorstage,scaenae fronsandcavea(seating) at one end, a large quadriporticus that surrounded an extensive garden and housed Pompey's collection of art and literature, and the curia itself at the opposite end from the theater. While the theater complex overall would stand for centuries, the curia itself would last for only about a decade. In 44 BC, 11 years after the structure opened,Caesarwas murdered there by a conspiracy of senators. Afterwards, the structure was closed and walled up and was said to have been set on fire. A latrine was put in its place some years later.

Archaeology

The structure is located in an area now calledLargo di Torre Argentina.The site was excavated by order of the dictatorBenito Mussoliniin the 1930s.^[5]^{[failed verification]}For the most part, only the foundations of the original structure have been excavated^[6]and a modern roadway and rail system are now raised above the remains of the curia. In 2012, it was announced that further excavations had uncovered the precise spot of Caesar's murder, marked by his adopted son within the building before its destruction. It was also later announced that the underground excavations of the curia would be opened to the public in 2013.^{[citation needed]}

References

^^a ^bMiddleton, John Henry (1892).The remains of ancient Rome, Volume 2.University of Michigan Library. p. 68.
^Bunson, Matthew (1994).Encyclopedia of the Roman Empire.Facts On File. pp.159–160.ISBN 0-8160-4562-3.
^Encyclopædia Britannica.Vol. 2. Samuel L. Hall. 1878. p. 551.
^Richardson, L (1992).A New Topographical Dictionary of Ancient Rome.Johns Hopkins University Press. pp.104.ISBN 978-0-8018-4300-6.
^Hogg, Brewer; Sylvie, Stephen (2012).Frommer's Italy Day by Day.Frommer. pp.106.ISBN 978-1-118-02736-3.
^Ewald, Björn Christian; Noreña, Carlos F (2010).The emperor and Rome: space, representation, and ritual.Yale Classical Studies. Cambridge University Press. p. 152.ISBN 978-0-521-51953-3.

[Middleton-1] Middleton, John Henry (1892).The remains of ancient Rome, Volume 2.University of Michigan Library. p. 68.

[Bunson-2] Bunson, Matthew (1994).Encyclopedia of the Roman Empire.Facts On File. pp.159–160.ISBN 0-8160-4562-3.

[3] Encyclopædia Britannica.Vol. 2. Samuel L. Hall. 1878. p. 551.

[Richardson-4] Richardson, L (1992).A New Topographical Dictionary of Ancient Rome.Johns Hopkins University Press. pp.104.ISBN 978-0-8018-4300-6.

[5] Hogg, Brewer; Sylvie, Stephen (2012).Frommer's Italy Day by Day.Frommer. pp.106.ISBN 978-1-118-02736-3.

[Space-6] Ewald, Björn Christian; Noreña, Carlos F (2010).The emperor and Rome: space, representation, and ritual.Yale Classical Studies. Cambridge University Press. p. 152.ISBN 978-0-521-51953-3.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]