Trajan’s Forum

Overview

Trajan's Forum (Latin: Forum Traiani; Italian: Foro di Traiano) was the last of the Imperial fora to be constructed in ancient Rome. The architect Apollodorus of Damascus oversaw its construction.

Details

Location" Location: Campus Martius, Rome Italy
Co-ordinates" Co-ordinates: 41.895560, 12.485830

Map

History

This forum was built on the order of the emperor Trajan with the spoils of war from the conquest of Dacia, which ended in 106. The construction began between 105 and 107; according to the Fasti Ostienses the Forum was inaugurated in 112. Trajan's Column was erected and then inaugurated in 113.

To build this monumental complex, extensive excavations were required: workers eliminated a ridge connecting the Quirinal and Capitoline (Campidoglio) Hills. Over 300,000 cubic meters of soil and rock were excavated and dumped outside the Porta Collina.

It is possible that the excavations were initiated under Emperor Domitian, while the project of the Forum was completely attributed to the architect Apollodorus of Damascus, who also accompanied Emperor Trajan in the Dacian campaign.

During the time of the construction, several other projects took place: the construction of the Markets of Trajan, the renovation of Caesar's Forum (where the Basilica Argentaria was built) and the Temple of Venus Genetrix.

Nearby Locations

LocationDistanceDirection
Trajan's Market Italy bullet_black0.01 milesE
Imperial Fora Italy bullet_black0.14 milesSSE
Victor Emmanuel II Monument (Altare della Patria) Italy bullet_black0.15 milesWSW
Santa Maria in Aracoeli Italy bullet_black0.19 milesSW
Arch of Septimius Severus Italy bullet_black0.20 milesSSW
Capitoline Museums Italy bullet_black0.22 milesSW
Roman Forum Italy bullet_black0.23 milesS
Vicus Caprarius (Trevi Fountain Underground) Italy bullet_black0.35 milesNNW
Arch of Titus Italy bullet_black0.36 milesSSE
Trevi Fountain Italy bullet_black0.41 milesNNW
Arch of Constantine Italy bullet_black0.47 milesSSE
Pantheon Italy bullet_black0.51 milesWNW
Palatine Hill Italy bullet_black0.57 milesSSE
Domus Aurea Italy0.58 milesESE
Baths of Trajan Italy0.60 milesESE
Capuchin Crypt Italy0.64 milesNNE
Circus Maximus Italy bullet_black0.65 milesS
Collosseum Italy bullet_black0.65 milesS
Piazza Navona Italy bullet_black0.69 milesWNW
Stadium of Domitian (Piazza Navona Underground) Italy bullet_black0.74 milesWNW
Information correct as of 16/09/2020