Imperial fora (Latin: Fora Imperatorum) are a series of monumental fora (public squares), constructed in Rome over a period of one and a half centuries, between 46 BC and 113 AD. Let’s take a look at the Forum of Caesar and the Forum of Augustus.
Forum of Caesar (Forum Iulium or Forum Julium, Forum Caesaris) was inaugurated in 46 BC, although it was probably incomplete at this time and was finished later by Augustus.
Forum of Caesar was constructed as an extension to the Roman Forum. The Forum was used as a replacement venue to the Roman Forum for public affairs as well as government; it was also designed as a celebration of Caesar's power.
Augustus was the successor of Caesar, that’s why the Forum of Augustus was built next to the Forum of Caesar.Forum of Augustus (Latin: Forum Augustum; Italian: Foro di Augusto) was built by Augustus. It includes the Temple of Mars Ultor. The incomplete forum and its temple were inaugurated in 2 BC.
In the battle of Philippi in 42 BC, in which Augustus and Mark Antony worked together and avenged Caesar's death, defeating the forces of Brutus and Cassius, Augustus vowed to build the Temple of Mars Ultor (Mars the Avenger).
Imperial fora, while not part of the Roman Forum, are located relatively close to each other. The fora were the center of the Roman Republic and of the Roman Empire.
